This study evaluates the quality of sausage obtained from the meat of Nellore cattle fed diets containing different levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 g per kg total DM) of lauric acid (C12:0) from palm kernel cake. A linear reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in lipid oxidation, as reflected by linear decreases in the lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), and saturation (C*) color parameters, is observed on days 7, 14, and 21 of maturation of sausage, and these decreases are accompanied by linear increases in the redness (a*) color and the linoleic (C18:2n–6) and linolenic (C18:3n–3) fatty acid contents. The inclusion of lauric acid in the diet induces linear reductions in the shear force and cooking loss and does not significantly affect various indices, including the centesimal composition, water activity, water holding capacity, composition of most fatty acids (FA), hypocholesterolemic‐to‐hypercholesterolemic FA ratio, atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, and desirable fatty acids. The use of dietary lauric acid from palm kernel cake is recommended at doses up to 15 g per kg because its presence reduces lipid oxidation and improves color parameters, softness, and linoleic and linolenic FA without affecting the FA composition of sausage from Nellore bull's meat.Practical applications: Sausages are products manufactured from chopped or ground meats packaged into animal casings. This product appeared in Brazil through the adaptation of traditional recipes brought by German and Italian immigrant families to weather conditions and the national palate. However, due to its production characteristics, sausage can become a product with lipid characteristics that are undesirable for human consumption. The inclusion of lauric acid (C12:0) in the animal diet might change the biohydrogenation process in the rumen, improve the quality of the deposited FA and reduce lipid oxidation in sausage manufactured from meat. The FA composition and physicochemical properties of sausage predict its acceptance by the consumer market. An optimal advantage would be achieved if these products can be used as not only preservatives but also functional ingredients with antioxidant properties and products for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases through atherogenic action.

Vegetable oils can be used to increase energy density in diets; manipulate rumen fermentation; and alter the capacity for degradation, digestion and absorption of nutrients. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate palm kernel oil (PKO) in the diet of confined bulls with the inclusion of 0.0, 11.5, 23.0 and 34.6 g PKO/kg dry matter (DM). The first experiment evaluated nutrient intake, performance, ingestive behavior and carcass characteristics. In the second experiment, steers crossbred with a ruminal cannula were used to evaluate digestibility, nitrogen balance, microbial protein synthesis, short-chain fatty acid levels and protozoal counts. The results showed that the inclusion of PKO linearly reduced intake in kg/day (DM, crude protein—CP, neutral detergent fiber—NDFap, nonfibrous carbohydrates—NFC and total digestible nutrient—TDN) and digestibility (DM, NDFap and TDN). Ether extract intake increased quadratically with the predicted maximum intake of 15.4 g/kg DM. Regarding ingestive behavior, there was a quadratic increase in rumination time and a quadratic reduction in idle time. Nitrogen balance, nitrogen intake, nitrogen retention, microbial protein production, acetate, butyrate, acetate/propionate ratio and protozoa count showed linear decreases due to dietary PKO inclusion. Regarding the carcass characteristics, linear decreases were observed for the final weight, average daily gain, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, loin eye area and subcutaneous fat thickness. The inclusion of PKO at up to 34.6 g/kg DM in diets for confined bulls reduces intake, negatively affecting digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics.

A B S T R A C TThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects adding tamarind residue to cassava silage on the quality of the silage and its in vitro ruminal fermentation, as well as the growth performance and carcass quality of lambs. A completely randomized design with four inclusion levels (0.00, 100, 200 and 300 g/kg) of tamarind residue (Tamarindus indica L.) added to cassava silage was used. Twenty mini-silos were used to prepare samples of the four treatments (five replicates each), which were opened after 56 days. Forty male lambs were fed cassava silage with added tamarind residue as the roughage and a concentrate (500:500 g/kg of feed) over 85 days. There was no effect of the tamarind residue-added cassava silage on effluent losses and dry matter (DM) recovery rates. However, there were linear and quadratic reductions in pH (P < 0.001) and the crude protein (CP) (P < 0.001), ether extract (EE) (P < 0.001) and ash (P < 0.001) contents and linear and quadratic increases in the DM, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < 0.001), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P < 0.001), non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) (P < 0.001), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (P < 0.001), and tannin (P < 0.001) contents. There was a linear increase in the maximum potential gas production from total carbohydrates and the gas production rate from NFCs (P < 0.001). The production rate of total gases (P < 0.001), lag phase duration (P < 0.001) and DM in vitro degradability (P < 0.001) were all reduced with the addition of tamarind residue in silage. There was no effect of the tamarind residue-added cassava silage on DM, CP, NFC or total digestible nutrient (TDN) intakes (g/d). However, there was a linear increase in the NDF intake (P = 0.042) and a linear reduction in the EE (P = 0.038) intake by lambs. There was an increase in the DM (P < 0.001), CP (P < 0.001), and NDF (P < 0.001) contents. There was linear effect on the DM (P < 0.001), CP (P < 0.001), and NDF (P < 0.001) contents and a positive quadratic on EE (P = 0.018) digestibility. There was linear carcass yield; IVDMD, in vitro dry matter digestibility kinetics over 48 h; LDA, longissimus dorsi area; NDF ap , neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein; m 1 , gas production rates from non fibrous carbohydrates; m 2 , gas production rates from fibrous carbohydrates; mt, total gas production rate; NFCs, non-fibrous carbohydrates; TDNs, total digestible nutrients; vf 1 , maximum potential gas production from non-fibrous carbohydrates; vf 2 , maximum potential gas production from fibrous carbohydrates; vt, maximum potential gas production from total carbohydrates Animal Feed Science and Technology 235 (2018) 50-59 0377-8401/ © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.T increase in nitrogen (N) fecal excretion (P < 0.001) and a quadratic decrease in N urinary (P = 0.018) excretion and N retention (P < 0.001). There was an increase in the hot and cold carcass weights and yields (P < 0.001) and in the Longissimus dorsi area (LDA) (P < 0.001) of the lambs. The addition of 300 g/kg tam...

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of the addition of dry tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) residue to cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) silage on the carcass traits, quality and fatty acid profile of lamb meat. Forty 6-month-old (±2 days) castrated lambs (crossbred Santa Ines × mixed breed) with initial bodyweights of 22.1 ± 3.0 kg were used in a completely randomised design with four treatments (0, 100, 200 or 300 g/kg of DM of dry tamarind residue) and 10 replicates (animals). There was a significant increase in hot carcass weight (P &lt; 0.001) and loin weight (P = 0.04); however, there were no effects on final bodyweight, average daily weight gain, slaughter weight, weights of other commercial cuts, shear force, lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), chroma (C*), lipid profile, ash content, initial and final pH value and cooking weight loss. There was a significant (P &lt; 0.001) quadratic reduction in water-holding capacity with an increasing tamarind residue content. The addition of tamarind residue to cassava silage linearly decreased the lauric (C12:0; P = 0.01) and stearic (C18:0; P = 0.01) fatty acid concentrations (total saturated fatty acids, ΣSFA) (P = 0.03) and the ratio of ΣSFA to unsaturated fatty acids (ΣSFA:ΣUFA; P = 0.04). However, there were linear increases in the C18:2 cis9, cis12 concentration (P = 0.04), polyunsaturated fatty acid n-6 concentration (P = 0.05), ΣUFA (P = 0.03) and the Σn-6:Σn-3 ratio (P = 0.01) in the lamb meat. Dry tamarind can be added to cassava up to a level of 300 g/kg of DM without any negative effects on the performance or meat quality, and it increases the yield of the loin cut, polyunsaturated fatty acid n–6 and ΣUFA, which makes the lamb meat healthier.

Lipid supplementation through vegetable oils in diets for ruminants can be a nutritional strategy to increase energy density, manipulate ruminal fermentation and change the physicochemical composition and sensorial properties of meat. This study evaluated the optimal dietary inclusion of palm kernel oil (PKO) for Nellore bulls on meat quality. The diets consisted of 0.0, 11.5, 23.0, and 34.6 g/kg dry matter (DM) PKO levels. PKO inclusion did not influence the centesimal composition, pH, color indices, water holding capacity, cooking loss, or shear force of the beef. There were linear increases in the concentrations of lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0) in the bull’s meat. However, palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:0), vaccenic acid (t-11–C18:1) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), ∑n − 6, ∑n − 3, ∑n − 6/∑n 3, the hypocholesterolemic: hypercholesterolemic ratio of the fatty acid content, and the thrombogenicity index were not affected. There were linear reductions in the oleic acid meat concentration (c-9–C18:1) and elongated enzymatic activity when PKO was added to the bull diet. The atherogenicity index increased linearly due to PKO inclusion in the bull diet. No effect of the inclusion of PKO on meat flavor, perception of tenderness, juiciness, or global acceptance from the sensorial evaluation was recorded. The inclusion of PKO up to 34.6 g/kg DM can be recommended to supplement young bulls with no effects on meat composition and quality characteristics.