Feeding Algae Meal to Feedlot Lambs with Competent Reticular Groove Reflex Increases Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Meat

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of supplementing marine algae as a source of omega-3 fatty acids (FA) in the diet, mixed in the concentrate or bottle-fed, on intramuscular fat FA composition of lambs with competent reticular groove reflex (RGR). Forty-eight feedlot lambs were distributed in three equal groups: one group did not consume marine algae nor had competent RGR, the second group received a daily dose (2.5%) of algae meal in the concentrate and the last group consumed the same dose of algae meal emulsified in milk replacer and bottle-fed. Marine algae raised the contents of EPA, DPA, and mainly DHA in the intramuscular fat, but the increase was significantly higher when algae meal was administered with a bottle via RGR. This strategy could contribute to improvements in the marketing of lamb meat by optimizing its status as a healthier food.

Influence of Dietary Algae Meal on Lipid Oxidation and Volatile Profile of Meat from Lambs with Competent Reticular Groove Reflex

“…It was higher in the ALGMILK treatment followed by the ALGCON treatment and lower in the NOALG treatment ( Table 1 ). The richness of long chain omega-3 PUFA in the intramuscular fat of the marine algae-supplemented meat samples as compared to the control samples (4.45 ± 1.48% vs. 1.45 ± 0.45% total FA, respectively) would explain their proneness to oxidation [ 10 , 18 , 19 ]. Oxidation changes the colour and lipid composition, which leads to the deterioration of visual appearance, undesirable flavours, and rancidity in meat.…”

“…04/05/2018/074). Details on the experimental design and diet composition have been published in a previous work [ 10 ]. In brief, 48 lambs from Manchega breed (42 days old and 11.6 ± 1.67 kg of body weight, BW) were allocated in pairs in 24 pens (Animal Production Department, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain).…”

“…In this line, a successful alternative to enhance the omega-3 FA content in ruminant meat is to foster the reticular groove reflex (RGR) of the newborn animal into adulthood and use it to feed emulsified lipid sources directly into the abomasum, thus bypassing the rumen. This approach to protect dietary PUFA against rumen biohydrogenation was recently researched in lambs by Gómez-Cortés et al [ 10 ]. Feeding marine microalgae to RGR competent feedlot lambs allowed to obtain meat with greater contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).…”

Rumen microbial-driven metabolite from grazing lambs potentially regulates body fatty acid metabolism by lipid-related genes in liver

“…The FAs that have positive effects on human health are mainly UFAs, especially PUFAs, which play a role in regulating cell cycle, reducing body fat, and preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, the biohydrogenation of PUFAs in rumen will generate a large number of SFAs, which will reduce the deposition of PUFAs in ruminant products [ 42 ]. According to rumen metabolome analysis, EPA, DHA and oleic acid were down-regulated and decanoic acid was up-regulated in the F group.…”