Influence of vitamin E supplementation and basal diet on the vitamin E status, performance and tissue fatty acid concentration in lambs

The Effect of Festulolium Silage-Based Diets on the Content of Tocopherols, β-Carotene and Retinol in Meat from Young Rams

This study analyzed the chemical composition and the β-carotene, tocopherol and retinol content of meat (musculus longissimus lumborum, musculus gluteus maximus) from young rams fed different silage-based diets. The animals were divided into four groups depending on the type of silage in the feed ration (hybrid ryegrass, Festulolium cv. Becva, Festulolium cv. Felopa, Festulolium cv. Paulita). The concentrations of the examined lipophilic compounds were measured via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Animals fed a diet based on ryegrass silage had the highest intakes of α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol and total tocopherols (p < 0.01). Muscles of rams fed Festulolium silage-based diets contained more tocopherols (p < 0.01) and retinol (p < 0.01 in m. g. maximus; p = 0.053 in m. l. lumborum) than the meat of animals receiving hybrid ryegrass-based diets. The highest amounts of tocopherols (p < 0.01) and retinol (p < 0.01 in m. g. maximus; p = 0.053 in m. l. lumborum) were found in meat from rams fed rations based on silage made from Festulolium cvs. Felopa and Paulita. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between the intake of tocopherols and the α-tocopherol content of meat (r = 0.99), as well as between the β-carotene intake and the retinol content of meat (r = 0.92 in m. l. lumborum; r = 0.91 in m. g. maximus).

Correlations between Sodium Selenite and Vitamin E with Serum Macro-Minerals in Male Lambs

The effects of selenium and vitamin E (Vit. E) were evaluated on the macro-elements and their relationships were also surveyed. Lambs were divided into 4 groups of control, Vit. E, sodium selenite and sodium selenite/Vit. E (Se/E). Sodium selenite (0.1 mg.kg−1) and Vit. E (8 mg.kg−1) were administered. The mean blood selenium was high in sodium selenite. Selenium only in the Se groups was continuously increased. The lowest and highest blood selenium were in Vit. E and sodium selenite, respectively. The mean serum macro-minerals were within the normal range. The trend of calcium and magnesium in the selenium groups was to increase until day 60, but phosphorus was to decline. The lowest and highest calcium were observed in the control and sodium selenite groups, for magnesium in Vit. E and control groups, and for inorganic phosphorus were in the control group, respectively. The comparison of minerals showed that selenium had a significant increase from day 14 to 90 in sodium selenite. Selenium showed the most positive relationships with calcium and inorganic phosphorus in Vit. E and sodium selenite. Overall, selenium was correlated with macro-minerals on day 90 and overall sampling times were with calcium. In conclusion, administration of selenium with Vit. E increased selenium, which was more observed in the sodium selenite group. Sodium selenite alone or with Vit. E had no effect on the macro-minerals. The least correlation was observed between selenium and macro-minerals in the Se/E administration. The correlation between macro-minerals was positive. It was concluded that the effect of sodium selenite on treatment and prevention of selenium deficiency was more effective than other groups. Vit. E per selenium did not change the selenium concentration. Selenium administration was associated with an increase in calcium level and their co-administration is recommended.

Retinol and α-Tocopherol Contents, Fat Color, and Lipid Oxidation as Traceability Tools of the Feeding System in Suckling Payoya Kids

The effects of Payoya kid feeding systems on the fat-soluble vitamin (retinol/α-tocopherol) contents, fat content, fat color, and the oxidation index were evaluated to determine their potential for use as feeding system traceability tools. Four groups of Payoya kids (55 animals in total) fed milk exclusively were studied: a group fed a milk replacer (MR) and three groups fed natural milk from dams reared with different management systems (mountain grazing (MG), cultivated meadow (CM) and total mixed ration (TMR)). Kids were slaughtered around one month of age and 8 kg of live weight. Kids from the MG and CM groups presented lower retinol (5.56 and 3.72 µg/mL) and higher α-tocopherol plasma (11.43 and 8.85 µg/mL) concentrations than those from the TMR and MR groups (14.98 and 22.47 µg/mL of retinol; 2.49 and 0.52 µg/mL of α-tocopherol, respectively) (p < 0.001). With respect to fat, kids with a higher intramuscular fat percentage (CM and TMR groups) had lower retinol contents (16.52 and 15.99 µg/mL, respectively) than kids from the MG and MR groups (26.81 and 22.63 µg/mL, respectively) (p < 0.001). A dilution effect of vitamins on fat was shown: the higher the amount of fat, the lower the vitamin concentrations, the higher the lipid oxidation index (MDA), and the lower the SUM (absolute value of the integral of the translated spectra between 450 and 510 nm). A discriminant analysis that included all studied variables showed that 94.4% of the kids were classified correctly according to their feeding system and could allow traceability to the consumer.

Feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs increased performance and carcass characteristics while maintaining meat quality

This study investigated the effect of feeding unsaleable carrots to lambs within a total-mixed ration (TMR) on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and sensory parameters. Thirty-six Australian Merino wether lambs were fed a control (barley-based) or carrot-based TMR for 11-weeks. Carrot-fed lambs had 2.7% higher cold dressing percentage (P = 0.03) while consuming less than control lambs. Subcutaneous fat of carrot-fed lambs contained less branch-chained, and more cis- and trans-monounsaturated fatty acids (FA; P ≤ 0.01) compared to control-fed lambs, which tended (P = 0.08) to have higher concentrations of polyunsaturated FA, despite the Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle being unchanged by diet. Under retail display conditions, L* and hue values were lower (P ≤ 0.04) for 5 d aged LL samples from carrot-fed lambs. No differences were observed in other meat quality and sensory parameters between diets. Therefore, feeding unsaleable carrots at 45% DM in a TMR can improve lamb performance and carcass characteristics, while maintaining meat quality and FA composition.

Carotenoids and Liposoluble Vitamins in the Plasma and Tissues of Light Lambs Given Different Maternal Feedings and Fattening Concentrates

Simple Summary

Meat of lambs that grazed with their dams during lactation on sainfoin had longer shelf-life than that of lambs whose dams grazed on alfalfa or received straw and concentrates (intensive). This effect could be partially ascribed to a different deposition of carotenoids and tocopherols in the muscle, that could be in turn affected by condensed tannins, secondary compounds of plants with antioxidant activity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate: (1) the effect of maternal feeding (sainfoin, alfalfa, intensive) on the presence of carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins in the plasma and tissues of light lambs after a finishing period on concentrates with or without quebracho (as source of condensed tannins); and (2) the authentication of the maternal feeding using the carotenoids and tocopherols in plasma and tissues. Grazing on alfalfa and sainfoin during suckling affected the concentrations in plasma at weaning, and some of the contents in the tissues even after the concentrate feeding period. Unexpectedly, the inclusion of quebracho in the concentrate decreased the α- and γ-tocopherol content in the lamb tissues. The use of carotenoids and tocopherols has to be combined with other analytes to authenticate the feeding system during the suckling period after a finishing period.

Abstract

The carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins in the plasma and tissues of the lambs under different maternal feedings and fattening concentrates was studied. During lactation, 21 lambs were housed with their dams, that received a total mixed ration (intensive); 21 ewe–lamb pairs grazed on alfalfa; and 21 pairs grazed on sainfoin. After weaning, half of the lambs in each maternal feeding group received a commercial concentrate (control) and the other half a concentrate with quebracho (Schinopsis balansae), as a source of condensed tannins, until they were slaughtered (23 kg). The analyte concentrations in the plasma of lambs at weaning reflected the content in the feedstuffs. Grazing during suckling more than doubled the contents of lutein in the liver and retinol in the tissues compared to the intensive feeding. The content of α-tocopherol in the tissues was greatest in sainfoin lambs, intermediate in alfalfa lambs, and lowest in the intensive lambs. The quebracho concentrate decreased α-tocopherol (by 41–81%) and γ-tocopherol (by 65–89%) contents in the lamb tissues. The use of the analytes in the plasma at weaning correctly classified 100% of the lambs into the maternal feeding (intensive vs. grazing (alfalfa + sainfoin)) but has to be improved in the carcass and tissues separately.

Effect of the maternal feeding on the carotenoid and tocopherol content of suckling lamb tissues

The objectives of the present study were to quantify the deposition of carotenoids and tocopherols in the tissues of suckling lamb and to use the levels of those compounds to trace the maternal feeding. Twenty suckling lambs were raised with their dams in vegetative-stage pastures, and 19 suckling lambs were stalled indoors with dams that received hay ad libitum, until the lambs reached 10-12 kg. The lambs' weekly intake of carotenoids and tocopherols was estimated from the milk production of the ewes and the carotenoid and tocopherol content of the milk. Samples of the subcutaneous and perirenal fat, longissimus thoracis muscle, and liver of the suckling lambs were collected at 24 h after slaughter. The pasture-raised lambs had greater intake of lutein than their indoor counterparts throughout the suckling period (p < 0.05), more retinol during the second and third weeks of the suckling period (p < 0.05), and more α-tocopherol during the first three weeks of the suckling period (p < 0.05), being similar thereafter. The pasture-raised lambs, when compared to the lambs raised indoors, had greater lutein content in the muscle and liver (p < 0.001), retinol and α-tocopherol content in all tissues (p < 0.001) and muscle and liver γ-tocopherol content (p < 0.05). The maternal feeding could be accurately predicted from the carotenoid and tocopherol content of whole lamb carcasses and muscle tissue but not from those of ewes' milk, lamb liver tissue or lamb fat deposits.

Comparison of antioxidant compounds in pig meat from Italian autochthonous pig Suino Nero Lucano and a modern crossbred pig before and after cooking

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antioxidant compounds of raw and cooked Longissimus lumborum muscles from Suino Nero Lucano (SNL) and a modern crossbred (CG) pig. Vitamin E, phenols, histidine-containing peptides, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity have been detected in the raw and cooked meat of both genetic types. Cooking process decreased the content of all considered antioxidant compounds (P < 0.05). The antioxidant compounds of meat were significantly influenced by genetic type (P < 0.001). Autochthonous SNL raw and cooked meat showed a higher endogenous antioxidants content (P < 0.001) and SOD activity (P < 0.02) compared to CG meat. The results of this research highlighted that the pig meat, in particular autochthonous pig meat, showed good concentrations of endogenous antioxidant compounds that could confer functional properties to the product.

Comparison of a grain-based diet supplemented with synthetic vitamin E versus a lucerne (alfalfa) hay-based diet fed to lambs in terms of carcass traits, muscle vitamin E, fatty acid content, lipid oxidation, and retail colour of meat

Dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VitE) in a synthetic or natural form was examined. Forty-eight lambs were assigned (n = 16) to either a grain-based diet at moderate (MOD, 42 mg∙kg^-1 VitE as all-rac α-tocopheryl acetate) or supranutritional (SUP, 285 mg∙kg^-1 of vitE) levels of synthetic VitE or a lucerne hay-based diet (LUC; 37 mg∙kg^-1 VitE) for 8 weeks. Meat from the LUC group had lower muscle n-6 and PUFA levels compared to meat from the MOD and SUP groups. Despite a similar VitE intake, muscle VitE was higher for LUC compared to MOD, while SUP lambs showed the highest VitE. Lipid oxidation did not differ between groups. For fresh meat, redness tended to be higher in LUC fed lambs than the other two groups, but brownness formation was only lower than the SUP group. For aged meat colour stability, redness tended to be higher in lambs fed SUP and LUC, whereas highest browning occurred in the MOD group.

Effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation of steers finished with 30% wet distillers grains plus solubles on fatty acid profiles and display life of strip loins

Feeding wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) in beef feedlot diets increases beef polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentration and decreases shelf-life; whereas feeding antioxidants like vitamin E and Agrado-Plus (AG; an ethoxyquin and tert-Butylhydroquinone mixture) mitigates such effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate shelf-life of beef from steers supplemented with WDGS and different antioxidants. One hundred and sixty steers were finished on a corn-based diet with 0% WDGS or 30% WDGS and four antioxidant treatments (no supplementation; vitamin E only; AG only; vitamin E + AG). Ten strip loins from each treatment were collected, aged, cut into steaks, and placed under retail display (2 ± 2°C). During retail display, steaks were evaluated daily for objective colour and subjective discolouration. After retail display, steaks were used to measure lipid oxidation, muscle fatty acids, and vitamin E and ethoxyquin concentrations. Feeding 30% WDGS increased total PUFA in beef when compared with beef from steers fed 0% WDGS (P < 0.05). Supplementing vitamin E or vitamin E + AG was effective in decreasing myoglobin and lipid oxidation in steaks from steers fed 0% or 30% WDGS after retail display (P < 0.01). Supplementation of vitamin E or AG also increased (P < 0.01) muscle tissue vitamin E or ethoxyquin levels, respectively, compared with the diets without vitamin E or AG supplementation. The inclusion of 30% WDGS altered beef fatty acid profiles, but did not promote lipid and myoglobin oxidation compared with the 0% WDGS diet. Feeding vitamin E was effective, whereas supplementing AG had minor effects in decreasing myoglobin and lipid oxidation in steaks from both diet.

Effect of vitamin E supplementation or alfalfa grazing on fatty acid composition and expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in lambs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin E (VE) supplementation and alfalfa grazing during fattening on fatty acid composition and mRNA expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in the LM of Rasa Aragonesa light lambs. After weaning, 48 lambs were kept indoors and fed a commercial concentrate and a VE supplemented concentrate (480 mg DL-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg DM) for 0 (control [CON]), 10 (VE10d), 20 (VE20d), and 30 d (VE30d) before slaughtering at 22 to 24 kg. Simultaneously, 8 unweaned lambs grazed in alfalfa (154 mg α-tocopherol/kg DM) paddocks with their dams and supplemented with the commercial concentrate (ALF). Immediately after slaughter, LM was sampled to determine gene expression. After 24 h of cooling at 4°C, LM was extracted to determine intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid composition. The IMF content did not differ with the dietary treatment ( = 0.212). Unweaned grazing alfalfa lambs had greater concentration of rumenic acid (C18:2 c9,t11; P < 0.001) and lower oleic acid (C18:1 c9; = 0.001) content and PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio (P < 0.001) but similar expression of genes implicated in lipid metabolism compared to the concentrate-fed lambs. Vitamin E supplementation did not modify muscle fatty acid composition; however, it increased the expression of FADS2 and ELOVL6, which are involved in desaturation of long-chain fatty acid and the elongation of SFA and MUFA. The results showed that a short period of VE supplementation, especially 10 (VE10d) and 20 d (VE20d), modified gene expression. Overall, the results showed that VE may be acting as a regulatory factor for transcriptional control of genes related to lipid metabolism in the muscle of Rasa Aragonesa light lambs (22-24 kg live weight and younger than 90 d old).

Effects of calcium soap of rice bran oil fatty acids supplementation alone and with DL-α-tocopherol acetate in lamb diets on performance, digestibility, ruminal parameters and meat quality

Thirty-six Malpura lambs (28 day old and 6.7 ± 0.25 kg BW) were distributed equally in three groups having six males and six female. They were ad libitum fed individually three different experimental diets containing calcium soap of fatty acids (CA-FA) at 0 (T1 ) and 40 (T2 and T3 ) g/kg concentrate up to six months of age. Animals in T3 were supplemented additionally with 40 mg DL-α-tocopherol acetate/kg of concentrate. The roughage moiety included ad libitum dry Prosopis cineraria and fresh Azadirachata indica leaves. All the lambs were allowed to suckle from their dam up to weaning (90 day of age). Supplementation of Ca-FA improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio during both pre- (28-90 days) and post-weaning (91-180 days) phases; however, no effect of DL-α-tocopherol was observed. Metabolic parameters during post-weaning phase revealed non-significant effect on digestibility but improved nitrogen balance in the test groups. The effect on biochemical attributes did not show any significant alteration in ruminal parameters, blood biochemicals and urinary purine derivatives. Carcass traits revealed higher (p < 0.05) dressing yield and loin eye area with Ca-FA supplementation. The value of thiobarbituric reactive substances for nuggets prepared from frozen carcasses revealed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in T3 compared to the other dietary groups. Fatty acid profile of adipose tissue revealed higher (p < 0.001) 9-octadecanoic, 9-12-octadecadienoic, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), higher ratio of PUFA/saturated fatty acids (SFA), ω-6/ω-3 and lower SFA in Ca-FA-supplemented groups. It is concluded that supplementation of 40 g/kg calcium soap prepared from industrial grade rice bran oil in lamb ration provided additional energy intake, improved N utilization, gain and feed conversion ratio besides improving dressing yield and meat quality with CLA enriched fatty acid profile. DL-α-tocopherol acetate when supplemented at 40 mg/kg feed reduced lipid oxidation of meat products thus improving its keeping quality.

Effects of dietary vitamin E on muscle vitamin E and fatty acid content in Aohan fine-wool sheep

BACKGROUND

Increasing the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content and decreasing the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content of mutton can help to improve its nutritional value for consumers. Several laboratories have evaluated the effects of vitamin E on the fatty acid (FA) composition of muscle in sheep. However, little information is available on wool sheep, even though wool sheep breeds are an important source of mutton, especially in northern China where sheep are extensively farmed. The present study was designed to address the effects of vitamin E on muscle FA composition in male Aohan fine-wool sheep.

METHODS

Forty-two male Aohan fine-wool lambs (5 mo old) with similar initial body weight were randomly divided into seven groups and fed diets supplemented with 0 (control group), 20, 100, 200, 1,000, 2,000, or 2,400 IU/sheep/d vitamin E for 12 mo. Three lambs from each group were slaughtered to measure vitamin E and FA content in the longissimus lumborum (LL) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles.

RESULTS

Vitamin E concentrations in the LL and GM increased significantly after 12 mo of vitamin E supplementation (P < 0.05). However, this increase did not occur in a dose-dependent manner because the muscle vitamin E concentration was highest in the 200 IU/sheep/d group. Dietary vitamin E supplementation also caused a significant reduction in SFA content and an increase in monounsaturated FA (MUFA) content in the LL and GM (P < 0.05). All six doses of vitamin E significantly increased cis9 trans11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9t11-CLA) content in the LL compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementation with vitamin E increased muscle vitamin E content and improved the nutritional value of mutton by decreasing SFA content and increasing MUFA and c9t11-CLA contents in Aohan fine-wool sheep. These effects were greatest in sheep fed a diet containing 200 IU/sheep/d vitamin E.

Effects of supplementation with fish oil and barium selenate on performance, carcass characteristics and muscle fatty acid composition of late season lamb finished on grass-based or concentrate-based diets

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of fish oil supplementation on performance and muscle fatty acid composition of hill lambs finished on grass-based or concentrate-based diets, and to examine the interaction with selenium (Se) status. In September 2006, 180 entire male lambs of mixed breeds were sourced from six hill farms after weaning and finished on five dietary treatments: grazed grass (GG), grass +0.4 kg/day cereal-based concentrate (GC), grass +0.4 kg/day cereal-based concentrate enriched with fish oil (GF), ad libitum cereal-based concentrate (HC) and ad libitum fish oil-enriched concentrate (HF). Within each treatment, half of the lambs were also supplemented with barium selenate by subcutaneous injection. At the start of the trial, the proportion of lambs with a marginal (<0.76 μmol/l) or deficient (<0.38 μmol/l) plasma Se status was 0.84 and 0.39, respectively. Compared with control lambs, GG lambs treated with Se had higher (P < 0.01) plasma Se levels, whereas erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was higher (P < 0.01) for Se-supplemented lambs fed diets GG and GF. However, Se supplementation had no effects on any aspect of animal performance. Fish oil increased (P < 0.05) levels of 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the Longissimus dorsi of HF lambs but otherwise had no effect on the health attributes of lamb meat. There were no significant effects of fish oil on dry matter intake, animal performance or lamb carcass characteristics. Daily carcass weight gain (CWG; P < 0.001), carcass weight (P < 0.01) and conformation score (P < 0.01) increased with increasing concentrate inputs. Lambs fed concentrate-based diets achieved a higher mean CWG (P < 0.001), dressing proportion (P < 0.001) and carcass weight (P < 0.011), and were slaughtered up to 8.3 days earlier (P < 0.05) and at 1.2 kg lower (P < 0.05) live weight than pasture-fed lambs. However, carcasses from grass-fed lambs contained lower levels of perinephric and retroperitoneal fat (P < 0.05), and had less fat over the Iliocostalis thoracis (P < 0.001) and Obliquus internus abdominis (P < 0.05). Meat from grass-fed lambs also had lower levels of 18:2n-6 and total n-6 fatty acids compared with those finished indoors. The results of this study demonstrate that fish oil supplementation has some benefits for the health attributes of meat from lambs fed concentrate-based diets but not grass-based diets. Supplementing Se-deficient lambs with barium selenate will improve Se status of lambs fed zero-concentrate diets, but has no additional benefit when lambs are already consuming their daily Se requirement from concentrates or when fish oil-enriched diets are fed.

Effect of vitamin E supplementation and diet on fatty acid composition and on meat colour and lipid oxidation of lamb leg steaks displayed in modified atmosphere packs

Groups of 8 lambs were allocated to one of five concentrate diets supplemented with all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate containing 30 (C30), 60 (C60), 120 (C120), 250 (C250) and 500 (C500) mg/kg dry matter. Two other groups were fed grass silage and 400 g/day concentrate with 60 (S60) or 500 (S500) mg α-tocopheryl acetate/kg dry matter. Within diet, vitamin E level did not affect growth performance or carcass characteristics. Basal diet did not affect final live weight, conformation and fatness scores. M. semimembranosus from S lambs contained more α-tocopherol than that of C lambs on the same intake and by day 6 in MAP (75%O2/25%CO2) chroma and a* were below acceptable levels in C30 lambs. TBARS were higher in C30 and C60 muscle than in other treatments (P<0.001) after 3 and 6 days display. Muscle fatty acid composition varied with basal diet but lipid oxidation depended more on vitamin E concentration with an initial concentration of 1.9 μg/g muscle preventing significant lipid oxidation.