Mitochondrial respiratory and antioxidative enzyme activities in turkey meat

Copper and zinc hydroxychloride cosupplementation improve growth performance and carcass and reduce diarrhea frequency in grower-finisher pigs

This study investigated copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) hydroxychloride cosupplementation on the growth performance, diarrhea frequency, carcass, meat quality, and antioxidant activity in grower-finisher pigs. A total of 256 pigs were used from 70 to 154 days (d) of age, distributed in four treatments, with eight pigs in each pen and eight replications per treatment. Diets were provided to grower pigs from 70 to 112 days old and in the finisher, 112 to 154 days old. Copper was considered the low level at 100 mg Cu/kg and 90 mg Cu/kg, respectively, and 150 mg Cu/kg in both periods as high in the grower and finisher periods. In the grower and finisher period, zinc was cosupplemented in the diet at 80 mg Zn/kg and 70 mg Zn/kg, respectively. In the diets, T1 and T2 groups are the traditional inorganic sources for minerals (copper sulfate, CuSO₄; zinc oxide, ZnO) and T3 and T4 hydroxychloride sources (copper hydroxychloride, CHC, and zinc hydroxychloride, ZHC). The flavomycin was associated with treatments with low Cu content in the inclusion of 50 g/ton. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, the data were submitted to analysis of PROC MIXED in SAS, the PDIFF test analyzed the treatment effect. At the finisher period, pigs fed both minerals from hydroxychloride source had a higher BW 154 d, average daily gain (ADG) 70 to 154 d, the hot and cold carcass weight and frequency of normal feces than those fed 150 mg Cu/kg and Zn from a traditional inorganic source (P < 0.05). The animals fed low Cu levels of the sulfate source had a higher ADG 70 to 154 d than those fed high Cu levels of the same source (P < 0.05). Pigs fed 150 mg Cu/kg cosupplemented with Zn from a hydroxychloride source had the highest carcass length (P < 0.05). There was no difference among the treatments for meat quality (P > 0.05). Pigs fed 150 mg Cu/kg and Zn from a traditional inorganic source had a higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than the other treatments (P < 0.05). Animals fed low Cu levels from hydroxychloride had a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) formation than those fed sulfate source, regardless of the Cu levels and those fed high Cu levels of hydroxychloride (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 150 mg Cu/kg as copper sulfate cosupplemented to zinc oxide in the diet of growing and finishing pigs impairs the growth performance, carcass and increases diarrhea frequency, and copper and zinc hydroxychloride cosupplementation improves these characteristics.

Effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) peel powder meal dietary supplementation on antioxidant status and quality of breast meat in broilers

This study examined the antioxidant status and quality of breast meat in broiler birds fed diets supplemented with pomegranate peel powder meal (PPPM). During the 35-d feeding trial, broiler birds were fed six experimental diets: diet with 0% additives (negative control; NEGCON); diet with α-Tocopherol acetate at 200 g/tonne (positive control; POSCON); and four levels (2, 4, 6 and 8 g/kg) of PPPM, designated as PPPM₂, PPPM₄, PPPM₆, and PPPM₈. Breast muscle pH was determined 15mins and 24hrs postmortem. The breast muscles were then stored at 4 °C to determine shelf-life attributes (pH, colour, hue angle, and chroma) for 16 days. Meat from the 8 g/kg PPPM had the highest thawing loss, whereas cooking loss was lowest at 2 g/kg PPPM inclusion. The meat of birds fed 2 g/kg and 4 g/kg PPPM had the highest (P<0.05) ability to scavenge the ABTS [(2, 2-azinobis (3ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid))] radical cation (ABTS⁺), whereas, catalase activity was increased at 8 g/kg PPPM. The results obtained in this study indicate that 2 g/kg supplementation of pomegranate peel powder meal significantly improved the water-binding capacity of broiler breast meat, owing to the reduced cooking loss of the meat, and meat from the PPPM₂ (2 g/kg) group had the highest ability to scavenge ABTS.

Forced locomotor activity improves walking ability of male turkeys and modifies carcass characteristics

1. This trial investigated the effect of forced locomotor activity (training) on walking ability, leg posture, and growth performance, as well as carcass composition and meat quality in male fattening turkeys.2. A flock of 744 commercial turkeys was divided into three experimental groups, either without any training period (control), training from weeks 2 to 8 (short-term), or training from weeks 2 to 21 (long-term). All birds were slaughtered at an age of 21 weeks. To study the effect of short vs. long time lapse between shackling and stunning (suspension time), each training group was split into two halves that were hooked on the shackle for either 15 s or 3 min prior to stunning.3. Long-term physical training, compared to short-term or no training, resulted in better walking ability and in a lower percentage of leg malposition, as assessed at the end of fattening. No effect on final body weight was detected.4. In a subsample, the composition of 80 carcasses was determined by dissection. Long-term training favoured the percentage of the drumstick over that of the breast cut in comparison to the group without any training.5. Meat quality parameters were determined for breast muscle. The pH values 20 min post-mortem were reduced by long-term training, and the highest value was observed for a combination of no training with short suspension. After 24 h, pH values did not differ between experimental groups. The breast muscles were characterised as fast-glycolysing. Prolonged suspension time resulted in higher electrical conductivity after 24 h, and in higher a* values (redness).6. In conclusion, the study revealed that a long-term training period improved walking ability and leg posture of heavy male turkeys. Thus, training can contribute to the improvement of animal welfare in turkey husbandry. Meat quality variables of breast muscles were partially influenced by locomotor activity and suspension time.

Proximate composition and variation in colour, drip loss and pH of breast meat from broilers supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal over time

This study investigated the breast meat proximate composition and quality indicators in relation to response of broilers to the following dietary treatments (T): positive control (+C; with 668 mg salinomycin and 500 mg zinc bacitracin per kg of feed); Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) was fed at a low level (ML; 1–5 g/kg feed, depending on growth stage), a medium level (MM, 3 times the low level) or a high level (MH, 5 times the low level); and a negative control (–C; without supplementation) for 35 days. At postmortem, the carcass weight, and breast muscle pH at 45 min (pH45) and 24 h (pH24) were recorded. At 36 h postmortem, breast muscles were excised, weighed and stored in a refrigerator at 4°C to measure pH, colour (CIE-L*, lightness; a*, redness; and b*, yellowness) and cumulative drip loss over eight consecutive days. Chroma (C*) and hue angle (h) were calculated. The –C had the highest (P > 0.05) dressing percentage and chilled carcass weight, and ML had the lowest. Breast meat fat and energy contents were highest (P < 0.05) in +C and MOLM supplemented diets, and lowest in -C. Dietary treatments had no effect on pH at postmortem and during storage over time. Cumulative drip loss increased with each day of storage, and it was highest (P < 0.05) in +C and lowest in MH. Dietary supplementation of MOLM significantly (P < 0.05) reduced lightness, but increased redness, yellowness, chroma and the hue angle during storage over time. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of M. oleifera leaf meal had positive effects on proximate composition and shelf-life quality indicators of broiler breast meat.