Total Lipids, Fatty Acid Composition, Total Cholesterol and Lipid-Soluble Antioxidant Vitamins in the longissimus lumborum Muscle of Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) from Different Production Systems of the Brazilian Eastern Amazon

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of distinct production systems and seasonal variation in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon on the meat lipid composition of water buffaloes. Water buffaloes were reared in commercial farms in the Eastern Amazon either in extensive systems (Marajó Island, Nova Timboteua and Santarém locations), during rainy or dry seasons, or intensive (feedlot) systems. Animals reared in extensive systems were fed natural pastures, and those reared in feedlots were fed sorghum silage and commercial pellets. Buffaloes were slaughtered and ribeye muscle (longissimus lumborum) samples collected. Lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamins and fatty acids were analyzed. The nutritional value of meat from buffaloes reared in Marajó Island extensive system during the rainy season was higher than that of other systems, as it had lower levels of cholesterol and higher amounts of α-tocopherol associated with higher hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio and lower index of atherogenic. Also, this meat had lower percentages of saturated fatty acids and higher proportions of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly n − 3PUFA, with increased PUFA/saturated fatty acids ratio and decreased n − 6/ n − 3PUFA ratio. However, all extensive systems produced meat with a relatively low index of thrombogenicity values, which is advantageous for human health.

Muscle mineral profile of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) reared in different production systems of the Brazilian Eastern Amazon

“…One of the factors that may have contributed to such differences was the different types of feed available to these animals in the various production systems, with diets that consisted predominantly of fodder plants for extensive systems and concentrate for feedlot production systems (14). A similar nutrition effect is also found for the concentrations of macro and microminerals in the edible tissues of different domestic and game animals (6).…”

“…Bromatological and mineral values of the diets fed to crossbred buffaloes raised extensively in three types of production systems during the dry and rainy seasons or intensively in feedlots can be found in Silva et al (14). Macromineral and micromineral profiles are presented in Table 1.…”

“…The study was thoroughly described in a companion paper (14). Briefly, we used muscle samples (longissimus lumborum) of Murrah × Mediterranean crossbred buffaloes from three different production systems in the Eastern Amazon (under extensive production systems) in two times of the year (dry and rainy seasons) as well as from intensive (feedlot) production system.…”

“…The production systems from which the samples were collected, described in detail by Silva et al (14), are as follows: System 1-Marajó Island-located in the region of Soure, Pará, Brazil on Marajó Island (latitude 0…”

“…The variables were analyzed in the PROC MIXED of SAS version 9.1 (2014) (17) (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). More detail about statistical model and factors explanations can be found in Silva et al (14).…”