2. Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU

This study assessed carcass characteristics and meat quality of bulls finished in individual pens and fed with different diets. A completely randomized design determined how to feed 24 crossbred bulls (European × Nellore) with four diets over 84 days: CONT) without additives; MONE) inclusion of 30 mg of monensin/kg DM; MO + VI) inclusion of 30 mg of monensin + 30 mg of virginiamycin/kg DM; and MO+AD) inclusion of 30 mg of monensin/kg DM + 1.57 g of a blend of organic trace minerals, live yeast, beta-glucan, and mannans per kg DM (Advantage-Confinamento). MO+VI resulted in lower pH (P < 0.05) and lighter meat (P < 0.05) compared with other treatments. Cooking loss was less (P < 0.05) with MO+AD at 14 days of aging time. At 14 days, Warner-Bratzler shear force was higher for meat from bulls fed with CONT and MONE diets and slower (P < 0.05) for meat from bulls fed with MO+VI and MO+AD diets. In conclusion, including monensin combined with virginiamycin and monensin combined with a blend of organic trace minerals and yeast in the diets of bulls finished in individual pens can improve the color, Warner-Bratzler shear force of meat, and lower cooking losses.

Este trabalho substitui o cloreto de sódio (NaCl) por cloreto de potássio (KCl) em níveis crescentes, com a adição de óleos essenciais de orégano e tomilho para mitigar o efeito do cloreto de potássio na avaliação sensorial dos consumidores de hambúrgueres bovinos. Foram testados três níveis de substituição de sódio por potássio (KC20, KC40 e KC60 com 20%, 40% e 60% de substituição, respectivamente) e comparados com o controle (CONT, 100% cloreto de sódio), quanto às características microbiológicas iniciais e avaliação sensorial por 112 consumidores. A substituição de NaCl por KCl não alterou (P > 0,05) a população microbiana inicial. Da mesma forma, os níveis de substituição de NaCl por KCl não alteraram (P > 0,05) a aceitabilidade de cor, odor e textura dos hambúrgueres bovinos. As substituições de 20% e 40% de NaCl por KCl melhoraram (P < 0,05) o sabor e a aceitabilidade geral dos hambúrgueres bovinos. Ainda, para níveis de substituição de 60%, não foi observada diferença (P > 0,05) quando comparado ao grupo CONT. Diferentes grupos de consumidores foram observados para sabor e aceitabilidade geral (P < 0,050). Em conclusão, é possível substituir até 60% de NaCl por KCl em hambúrgueres bovinos, com inclusão de óleos essenciais de orégano e tomilho, na avaliação sensorial pelos consumidores, sendo 20% o nível de substituição mais recomendado.

Background: Forty crossbred steers were supplemented with different doses (from 0 control to 6000 mg/animal/day) of natural additive blend containing clove essential oil, cashew oil, castor oil, and a microencapsulated blend of eugenol, thymol, and vanillin for 80 days. Carcass characteristics, drip loss, and antioxidant activity were evaluated 24 h post mortem on longissimus thoracis, and the effects of aging (until 14 days) were evaluated for water losses (thawing/aging and cooking), texture, color, and lipid oxidation. Results: The use of the natural additive blend did not modify (P > 0.05) carcass characteristics but did, however, modify body composition (P < 0.05). Drip losses were unaffected by the treatments tested (P > 0.05). There was an observed quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on losses from thawing/aging on the first day of storage. Regarding the effects of natural additives on cooking losses, there was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) among the treatments on day 7 of aging. Differences between days of aging were only observed with control treatment. Shear force was similar among treatments on days 1 and 7 of aging. On day 14 a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed. Also, a linear effect (P < 0.05) appeared on meat lightness, meat from the control group being clearer on day 1. No changes were observed in redness among treatments or days of storage (P > 0.05). Yellowness was not modified by the treatments (P > 0.05)but only by the days of storage in control and the lowest dosage used. Conclusion: The blend of natural additives has potential use in pasture feeding and could improve meat quality. However, doses should be adjusted.