Markers for meat provenance and authenticity with an account of its defining factors and quality characteristics - a review

Provenance is becoming increasingly important in meat supply chains as it lends products higher perceived quality. However, its precise definition and interpretation along with its associated characteristics factors have remained somewhat elusive. This review meticulously defines meat provenance while dissecting the essential factors and associated quality attributes that constitute its essence and are subsequently employed to establish pertinent markers for provenance. Meat provenance emerges as a multi-dimensional construct stemming from the adept management of a constellation of factors relating to geographical origin, farm production system, traceability, and authenticity. Through intricate interactions, these factors unveil innate originality that not only forges a distinct reputation but also imparts a unique typicity to the meat product. Gaining insights into a meat product's provenance becomes attainable by scrutinizing its pertinent composition and organoleptic quality traits. Trace elements and stable isotopes stand out as provenance markers, forging a direct connection to both geographical origin and dietary sources. While somewhat less direct in linkage, other markers such as plant biomarkers, fatty acid composition, pH levels, flavour and aromatic compounds along with organoleptic characteristics contribute to the overall understanding of provenance. Additionally, the identification of animal species and breeds serves as key markers, particularly in the context of protected geographical indications. The study findings are useful for the various stakeholders of how the information for meat provenance can be linked with intrinsic and extrinsic factors for meat quality and protecting the integrity of the supply chain with special reference to traceability and authenticity. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of Silage Diet (Sweet Sorghum vs. Whole-Crop Corn) and Breed on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality of Lambs

Diet and breed directly affect ruminant carcass traits and meat quality. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of silage diet and breed on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of lambs. A total of 28, 3-4 months old female lambs consisting of 14 Dorper lambs (DP) and 14 Thin-tailed Han lambs (TH) were allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial design and offered two experimental diets (sweet sorghum silage: SS; whole-crop corn silage: WS) for 90 days. Lambs fed the WS diet had a higher growth performance (p < 0.01), intramuscular fat content (p < 0.05), and bright meat color (p < 0.01) than lambs fed the SS diet. The lambs fed the SS diet showed a higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content than the lambs fed the WS diet (p < 0.01); there was no significant difference in growth performance and carcass characteristics between DP and TH lambs (p > 0.05). The meat of the DP lambs showed lower values of initial pH, shear force, lightness (L*), redness (a*), and saturated fatty acid (SFA) content (p < 0.05). The lamb breed influenced fewer variables of growth performance and carcass characteristics compared to the diet. The lambs fed the SS diet had higher nutritional quality meat than lambs fed the WS diet.

Feeding, Muscle and Packaging Effects on Lipid Oxidation and Color of Avileña Negra-Ibérica Beef

In order to increase the economic profitability of Avileña-Negra Ibérica beef production, the inclusion of corn silage in total mixed rations was proposed during the fattening period. Twenty-four Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed entire young bulls were used to evaluate the effects of two feeding systems-concentrate (CON) and corn silage (SIL)-and two packaging systems-vacuum (VAC) and modified atmosphere (MAP)-on the lipid oxidation, color evolution and visual color acceptability of meat throughout display with either oxygen-permeable film (FILM) or modified atmosphere (MAP). Two muscles were assessed: Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Semitendinosus (ST). Meat from SIL-fed animals had higher TBA values than CON-fed animals after 7 days in MAP packaging. Lipid oxidation was prevented more effectively by VAC packaging than MAP. Display time highly influenced lipid oxidation, since oxidation rates were lower with VAC than MAP packaging. After 14 days of display in MAP, the LT from CON was lighter than the ST. Meat discoloration after 7 days of display was significantly different between packaging systems. Vacuum-packaged meat kept the same color throughout the storage time. Visual color acceptability for the LT was higher throughout display than for the ST. Samples from the MAP were well accepted by consumers, especially the meat from the SIL group. Alternatively, feeding with corn silage could be used for this type of animals without affecting important aspects of meat quality.

Effect of Rearing Season on Meat and Intramuscular Fat Quality of Beni-Guil Sheep

Twenty Beni-Guil-PGI female lambs were used to study the effects of rearing season on meat quality characteristics, fatty acids profile, and lipid content. The animals were reared according to the pastoral-transhumant system in the eastern region of Morocco. The treatments consisted of 10 female lambs reared in summer-autumn (SA) and slaughtered at winter season and 10 female lambs reared in winter-spring (WS) and slaughtered at spring season. After the slaughter, the longissimus lumborum was collected for each animal for meat quality analysis. Compared to lambs reared in SA, the meat from the WS group showed higher ( $p<0.01$ ) pH, chroma, and lightness values (5.79 vs. 5.72, 23.97 vs. 18.46, and 47.03 vs. 41.04, respectively). On the other hand, the meat from WS presented higher ( $p<0.05$ ) intramuscular fat content (5.14 % vs. 3.82%, respectively). However, the intramuscular fat of the lambs reared in SA was characterized by greater ( $p<0.01$ ) PUFA percentage (16.82% vs. 12.40%, respectively), thrombogenic ( $p<0.001$ ) and atherogenic index ( $p<0.001$ ), and PUFA/SFA ratio ( $p<0.01$ ; 0.42 vs. 0.25, respectively). Nevertheless, those reared in WS season have a higher ( $p<0.001$ ) PUFA n − 3 (2.58% vs. 1.14%, respectively) content, and therefore favorable ( $p<0.001$ ) n − 6/n − 3 ratio (3.78 vs. 12.98, respectively).

Influence of dietary energy concentration and body weight at slaughter on carcass tissue composition and beef cuts of modern type Fleckvieh (German Simmental) bulls

A feeding and slaughter experiment was conducted to evaluate the carcass tissue composition and meat quality of growing modern type Fleckvieh (German Simmental) bulls. For the study, 72 bulls were customary reared and for the fattening period allocated to a normal energy and a high energy treatment group with 11.6 and 12.4 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively. Bulls were slaughtered in a serial slaughter trial with final live weights of 120, 200, 400, 600, and 780 kg. The weights of carcasses, carcass quarters, beef cuts and their tissues (muscle, tendon, fat and bone) as well as meat quality traits were recorded. Results showed that carcass fat increased during growth primarily at the expense of bone and subsidiary muscle tissue, while the tendon content remained constant. Meat quality traits like IMF, meat color and tenderness were superior in high weight groups. Feeding high energy rations did not lead to increased fat accretion, but increased daily gain during certain stages of the fattening period.

Characterisation of beef production systems and their effects on carcass and meat quality traits of Piemontese young bulls

Using the Piemontese breed as a case study, we characterised beef production systems within the EU classification, and investigated their effects on carcass and meat quality traits. The research involved 1,327 young bulls fattened on 115 farms. The production systems identified by hierarchical cluster analysis were: traditional (restricted feeding and either tie-stalls or loose-housing), modern breeders and fatteners and specialised fatteners (the last two were divided in those using or not using total mixed rations). Despite the large variability in management techniques within production systems, production systems affected (P < 0.05) farm size, animal density, environmental scoring, diet, slaughter age and all carcass traits except weight. Lightness (L*) of Longissimus thoracis was the only meat quality trait affected (P < 0.05), with values greater in the traditional tie-stall system (+0.9 L*). Given the very limited effect of production systems on meat quality traits, factors related to individual animals within farms, such as genetics, should be considered for their improvement.

Fatty acid profile, carcass traits and meat quality of Nellore steers following supplementation with various lipid sources

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fatty acid composition of meat and subcutaneous fat, carcass traits and meat quality of Nellore steers fed diets supplemented with various lipid sources. Forty-five young bulls, with average bodyweight of 441 ± 30 kg, were allotted into 10 paddocks, with five treatments, each consisting of two paddocks. The bulls were randomly assigned into one of the following five treatments, which consisted of four lipid sources: palm oil (PO), linseed oil, rumen protected fat (soybean-based oil), whole soybean, and a control (without additional fat). Trial duration was 120 days, which included 30 days of adaptation. Supplements were offered daily at 10 g/kg bodyweight per day. Dietary supplements for providing additional fat were formulated to consist of 10% ether extract. Lipid sources did not significantly affect the average daily gain (P = 0.797) or dressing percentage (P = 0.663). Supplementation with PO increased the concentrations of lauric acid (P = 0.036) and myristic acid (P < 0.001) in the muscle and subcutaneous fat. Animals supplemented with linseed oil had significantly higher concentrations of conjugated linolenic acid in the meat (P = 0.036) and fat (P = 0.049) than did control animals. In the present study, the use of various lipid sources in dietary supplements of grazing cattle during finishing period did not affect carcass traits or physical attributes of beef. This absence of statistical significance may be related to the minimum number of repeat paddocks (2) per treatment. Thus, differences that can have a practical significance were not evidenced by statistical analysis. The inclusion of PO and protected fatty acids derived from soybean oil (rumen-protected fat) is not recommended as a method to improve the lipid profile of meat and subcutaneous fat of Nellore cattle.

Carcass and meat quality of Thai native cattle fattened on Guinea grass (Panicum maxima) or Guinea grass-legume (Stylosanthes guianensis) pastures

Carcass and meat quality of Thai native cattle, fattened for 2 years on Guinea grass (Panicum maxima) and Guinea grass-legume (Stylosanthes guianensis) pastures, were investigated in twelve 3-years old males. Groups had similar carcass quality except for kidney fat percentage (higher in cattle of the grass-legume group). This group also had a lighter meat (Longissimus dorsi, Infraspinatus) than the grass-only fed cattle. Shear force was generally at the borderline to tender meat, and was unaffected by treatment as were other texture-related properties except muscle fibre diameter. Meat of the grass-legume group was perceived less juicy (P<0.05) but more tender (P<0.1). The meat of the grass-legume-fed cattle also had more intramuscular fat (4.3% vs. 3.4%) and a slightly less favourable n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio (2.2 vs. 2.0). In conclusion, the mostly weak differences in carcass and meat quality did not clearly favour one of the grazing systems.