Impact of Cattle Feeding Strategy on the Beef Metabolome

Abstract

The present study explored changes in the meat metabolome of animals subjected to different finishing systems and growth rates. Thirty-six Angus × Nellore crossbred steers were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments: (1) feedlot system with high average daily gain (ADG; FH); (2) feedlot system with low ADG (FL); (3) pasture system with high ADG (PH); and (4) pasture system with low ADG (PL). After harvest and chilling, Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples were taken for metabolite profile analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance. Spectrum was analyzed using chenomx software, and multi- and mega-variate data analyses were performed. The PLS-DA showed clear separation between FH and PL groups and overlap among treatments with different finishing systems but similar for matching ADG (FL and PH) treatments. Using a VIP cut-off of around 1.0, ATP and fumarate were shown to be greater in meat from PL cattle, while succinate, leucine, AMP, glutamate, carnosine, inosine, methionine, G1P, and choline were greater in meat from FH. Comparing FL and PH treatments, glutamine, carnosine, urea, NAD+, malonate, lactate, isoleucine, and alanine were greater in the meat of PH cattle, while G6P and betaine were elevated in that of FL cattle. Relevant pathways were also identified by differences in growth rate (FH versus PL) and finishing system were also noted. Growth rate caused a clear difference in meat metabolism that was highlighted by energy metabolism and associated pathways, while the feeding system tended to alter protein and lipid metabolism.

Pasture-finishing of bison improves animal metabolic health and potential health-promoting compounds in meat

“…An alternative explanation for the elevated proteolytic amino acid metabolites could be increased protein turnover in the muscle of pen-finished bison as their average daily gain was greater; however, branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) and other essential amino acids were not elevated in the pen-finished samples, which we would expect to be higher in the case of more rapid growth (Additional file 2 : Table S1). Our findings are, therefore, in contrast to previous findings in cattle where concentrations of essential amino acids were higher in meat from feedlot as opposed to pastured animals [ 50 ].…”

“…6 ). A greater reliance on glycolysis is common in faster growing livestock and may relate to higher intake of digestible carbohydrates through concentrate feeding [ 50 ]. In humans, increased activity of the sorbitol pathway is considered one of the leading factors in the pathogenesis of glucose intolerance [ 51 ].…”