Multivariate Relationships among Carcass Traits and Proximate Composition, Lipid Profile, and Mineral Content of Longissimus lumborum of Grass-Fed Male Cattle Produced under Tropical Conditions

Abstract

Hierarchical cluster (HCA) and canonical correlation (CCA) analyses were employed to explore the multivariate relationships among chemical components (proximate, mineral and lipidic components) of lean beef longissimus dorsii lumborum (LDL) and selected carcass traits of cattle fattened on pasture under tropical conditions (bulls, n = 60; steers, n = 60; from 2.5 to 4.0 years of age, estimated by dentition). The variables backfat thickness (BFT), Ca, Mn, Cu, C14:0, C15:0, and C20:0 showed the highest coefficients of variation. Three clusters were defined by the HCA. Out of all carcass traits, only BFT differed significantly (p < 0.001) among clusters. Clusters significantly (p < 0.001) differed for total lipids (TLIPIDS), moisture, dry matter (DM), fatty acid composition, cholesterol content, and mineral composition (except for Fe). The variables that define the canonical variate “CARCASS” were BFT and degree of marbling (MARBLING). TLIPIDS was the main variable for the “PROXIMATE” canonical variate, while C16:0 and C18:1c had the most relevant contribution to the “LIPIDS” canonical variate. BFT and MARBLING were highly cross-correlated with TLIPIDS which, in turn, was significantly affected by the IM lipid content. Carcass traits were poorly correlated with mineral content. These findings allow for the possibility to develop selection criteria based on BFT and/or marbling to sort carcasses, from grass-fed cattle fattened under tropical conditions, with differing nutritional values. Further analyses are needed to study the effects of sex condition on the associations among carcass traits and lipidic components.

Progress on Nutrient Composition, Meat Standardization, Grading, Processing, and Safety for Different Types of Meat Sources

“…Two state-of-the-art extensive reviews are published on this topic, one [ 1 ] informing on the genetic and nutritional strategies available to enhance the nutritional quality of red meat (168 reviewed papers), and the other [ 2 ] attempting to characterize the quality and nutrient composition of meat produced in the tropics (147 reviewed papers). The original articles that dealt with the nutrient composition of meats and co-products, separately or concurrently with aspects of eating quality, were the results of research carried out in various countries, in different species and environments, including Chile [ 3 ] (the effect of supplementing pigs with brown seaweed on quality traits and nutrient composition of pork), Canada [ 4 ] (the impact of feedlot diets containing various levels of barley on the nutritional quality of Bos taurus beef), Spain and USA [ 5 ] (a comparison of the veal produced by bullock calves in the Pyrenees [PGI-Certified Ternera de Navarra ( CTNA )] and US Angus certified beef), Colombia [ 6 ] (characterization of the lipid profile of visceral fats by-products of chicken), and Venezuela [ 7 ] (multivariate relationships between nutrient composition and carcass characteristics of Bos indicus -type cattle raised on pasture in a tropical environment).…”