Effects of dietary ferulic acid on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of heifers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ferulic acid is a natural occurring compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive properties, and recently was proposed as a new alternative growth promoter in meat-producing animals without changing meat quality parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two doses of ferulic acid (FA) on the feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat quality in commercial heifers. Ninety heifers (3/4 Bos taurus; n = 270; body weight = 480 ± 10 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (30 days): Control, fed with a basal diet; FA250 or FA500 offered the same diet further supplemented with FA at 250 or 500 mg kg −1 feed, respectively. Feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and meat sensory characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: FA supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG) by 21%, hot carcass weight by 1.8% and cold carcass weight by 1.6% with respect to the control (P < 0.05). FA500 treatment caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in some carcass traits. However, carcass characteristics of economic importance, such as cold carcass dressing and LT muscle area, were improved by FA250 supplementation (P < 0.05), causing a possible growth promoter effect. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of meat were not altered by FA supplementation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ferulic acid has the potential for use as a growth promoter additive in finishing heifers without negatively affecting the meat quality, as occurs with some synthetic growth promotants compounds used in animal production.

Growth performance, carcass traits, muscle fiber characteristics and skeletal muscle mRNA abundance in hair lambs supplemented with ferulic acid

“…Studies related to the effects of FA supplementation on productive species are limited and inconsistent. Results of the present study agree with a previous study of finishing heifers supplemented with FA (2,250 or 4,500 mg FA d −1 ) where an increase of ADG and feed conversion was observed compared to non-supplemented animals [6]. Another study on ewe lambs reported an increase on wholesale cut yields when they were supplemented for 40 days with 250 mg kg −1 of FA under extreme heat stress [7].…”

Influence of ferulic acid and clinoptilolite supplementation on growth performance, carcass, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of finished lambs

“…These parameters (pH, WHC, cooking loss, color, and WBSF) were maintained within the reported values for lambs [ 9 , 46 - 48 ]. The lack of effects on color parameters between groups is consistent with previous reports with FA supplementation [ 6 - 9 , 48 ]. It has been reported that phytochemicals that exhibited antioxidant properties could delay metmyoglobin formation by reducing myoglobin and lipid oxidation, improving meat color stability [ 5 , 49 ]; however, FA did not show any antioxidant properties in our study.…”

“…The lack of effects of FA in our results is in accordance with [ 9 , 10 , 30 ] findings. In contrast, Peña-Torres et al [ 6 ] found that by including 250 ppm FA in the diet of heifers, dressing weight and loin area were improved. In addition, previous studies have shown that phytochemicals and plant extracts did not alter carcass characteristics in fattening lambs [ 39 ].…”

Effects of Dietary Ferulic Acid Supplementation on Hepatic Injuries in Tianfu Broilers Challenged with Lipopolysaccharide

“…The decrease in the growth performance can be explained by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal-axis-associated antioxidant process, which induced anorexia [ 34 ]. It has been reported by Peña Torres that the supplementation of FA increases ADG in heifers [ 35 ]. Similarly, Yu found that the supplementation of FA in daily feed with oxidized fish oil showed a positive effect in farmed tilapia due to the antioxidative potential of FA [ 36 ].…”