Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of beef in Northeastern Mexico: grazing vs feedlot systems

Abstract

Physicochemical characteristics and lipid profile of beef from cattle feeding on grazing and feedlot were compared. Forty beef samples were collected from each feeding system. The samples were taken from the Longissimus dorsi muscle. There were no differences between the feeding systems (P > 0.05) with regard to pH, luminosity index (L*), red (a*), yellow (b*), drip loss, and cooking yield. Regarding the nutritional content, there were significant differences in moisture and fat contents (P < 0.05), but not in protein or ash content (P > 0.05). The main fatty acids found were oleic, palmitic, and stearic. There was a higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, especially conjugated linoleic acid, on that beef from grazing bovines (P < 0.05). This information is useful for producers in the Northeastern region of Mexico, as it can help differentiate their product from the product of other similar ecological regions in Mexico and worldwide. Características fisicoquímicas y perfil de ácidos grasos de carne de res en el Noreste de México: sistema de pastoreo versus sistema confinado RESUMEN Las características fisicoquímicas, valor nutricional y perfil lipídico de la carne de bovino alimentados en pastoreo y estabulado en el noreste de México fueron evaluados en este estudio. Se colectaron 40 muestras de carne en cada sistema de alimentación. Las muestras fueron del músculo Longissimus dorsi tomadas entre la 12°y 13°costilla. El pH, índice de luminosidad (L*), rojo (a*) y amarillo (b*), perdida por goteo y rendimiento por cocción, no mostraron diferencias entre los sistemas de alimentación (P > 0.05). En el valor nutricional no se encontraron diferencias en el contenido de proteína ni cenizas (P > 0.05) pero si, en el contenido de humedad y grasa (P < 0.05). Los principales ácidos grasos en la carne de bovino fueron: oleico (C18:1, n-9), palmítico (C16:0) y esteárico (C18:0). Hubo una mayor concentración de ácidos grasos insaturados, en particular, ácido linoleico conjugado en la carne de bovinos en pastoreo (P < 0.05). Esta información es de utilidad para productores de la región noreste de México, ya que puede ayudar a diferenciar su producto del de otras regiones de México y del mundo.

Influence of beef genotypes on animal performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and sensory characteristics in grazing or feedlot-finished steers

“…In addition, the high-energy diet changed the average marbling score from USDA low choice to high choice. The energy content of the diet for the GRAIN system resulted in the rapid growth of the cattle and thereby a greater deposition of intramuscular fat ( Wood et al, 2008 , Bautista-Martínez et al, 2020 ). Similar results were also reported by Alfaia et al (2009) .…”

Tropical Beef: Is There an Axiomatic Basis to Define the Concept?

“…With the exception of three findings, the moisture ranges from 71% to 76%, and three quarters of the reported data are between 72% and 74%. The three excluded findings appear to be outliers, reporting very low moisture values [ 96 , 98 ]. Two of these data points are from a study comparing the use of anabolic steroid implants where low moisture contents (about 60%) and concomitant high protein contents (about 36%) were reported [ 96 ].…”

“…Two of these data points are from a study comparing the use of anabolic steroid implants where low moisture contents (about 60%) and concomitant high protein contents (about 36%) were reported [ 96 ]. The third is from a study comparing meat from cattle raised on pasture with supplementation to feedlots, and the moisture contents of the latter were reported as 67.3%, likely, at least in part, a consequence of the high IMF content [ 98 ]. Indeed, in all of the studies reporting differences in moisture content, these data correspond with opposing differences in IMF content.…”

“…Grain-finished bulls ( Bos indicus and Bos taurus ) produced meat with higher IMF contents than those finished on pasture (7.7% vs. 3.0%) [ 68 ]. Meat from steers (defined as “multiracial”) raised in feedlot had higher IMF content than those raised on pasture with supplementation (8.9% vs. 5.58%), both values being relatively high [ 98 ]. These findings are in accordance with the generally accepted conclusion that diets with a high content of concentrate cause rapid growth of cattle, and this is associated with a greater deposition of IMF [ 123 ].…”

“…In another Mexican study, the concentration of the CLA isomer, C18:2 cis -9, trans -11, in beef from grazing cattle was slightly more than double that in meat from cattle-raised in a feedlot system [ 98 ]. In this experiment, steers defined as “multiracial” were raised on pasture to a final live weight of 320 kg or in feedlot to 480 kg.…”