Advances in Methods and Technologies for Carcass and Meat Quality Evaluation.

The importance of advanced methods and technologies in the meat industry has increased significantly in the last decade, reflecting broader trends in consumer demand and food safety [...

The effect of the production system on the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle in Arouquesa cattle.

Arouquesa cattle breed is an autochthonous Portuguese breed produced under a traditional mountain system that need improvement without affecting beef quality. The aim of this work is to compare the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle from Arouquesa animals produced under different production systems. Sixty weaners were produced under the following systems: traditional (TF) and traditional with starter feed supplementation (TF + S1) with weaning and slaughtering at 9 months, the S1 + S2 (weaning at 5 months and grower supplement until slaughter) and two rearing periods with finishing supplementation (TF + S3 and S3).

Predicting Body Weight in Pre-Weaned Holstein-Friesian Calves Using Morphometric Measurements.

Regularly weighing calves helps to assess the efficiency of the rearing period and contributes to animal welfare by allowing more precise feeding and medication application in dairy farming, but many farmers do not weigh their calves regularly. Improving the feasibility of this process is, therefore, important. The use of morphometric measurements has been used to estimate the weight of cattle.

Using Image Analysis Technique for Predicting Light Lamb Carcass Composition.

Over the years, numerous techniques have been explored to assess the composition and quality of sheep carcasses. This study focuses on the utilization of video image analysis (VIA) to evaluate the composition of light lamb carcasses (4.52 ± 1.

Contribution to Characterizing the Meat Quality of Protected Designation of Origin Serrana and Preta de Montesinho Kids Using the Near-Infrared Reflectance Methodology.

The aims of this study were to describe and compare the meat quality characteristics of male and female kids from the "Serrana" and "Preta de Montesinho" breeds certified as "Cabrito Transmontano" and reinforce the performance of near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectra in predicting these quality characteristics and discriminating among breeds. Samples of ( = 32; sixteen per breed; eight males and eight females) were used. Breed significantly affected meat quality characteristics, with only color and fatty acid (FA) (C12:0) being influenced by sex.

A Comprehensive Review of Bovine Colostrum Components and Selected Aspects Regarding Their Impact on Neonatal Calf Physiology.

Colostrum contains macro- and micronutrients necessary to meet the nutritional and energy requirements of the neonatal calf, bioactive components that intervene in several physiological aspects, and cells and microorganisms that modulate the calf's immune system and gut microbiome. Colostrum is sometimes mistaken as transition milk, which, although more nutritive than whole milk, has a distinct biochemical composition. Furthermore, most research about colostrum quality and colostrum management focuses on the transfer of maternal IgG to the newborn calf.

Non-Invasive Biomarkers in Saliva and Eye Infrared Thermography to Assess the Stress Response of Calves during Transport.

Animal transport is currently a stressful procedure. Therefore, animal-based indicators are needed for reliable and non-invasive welfare assessment. Saliva is a biospecimen with potential validity for the determination of cortisol and oxidative stress, although its use to assess calf welfare during transport has never been tested.

Sheep and Goat Meat Processing and Quality.

Sheep and goat meat production includes the increased demand for grass-fed and organic meat and value-added products such as sausages, meatballs, and burgers [...

Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves' Health and Welfare.

Precision livestock farming (PLF) research is rapidly increasing and has improved farmers' quality of life, animal welfare, and production efficiency. PLF research in dairy calves is still relatively recent but has grown in the last few years. Automatic milk feeding systems (AMFS) and 3D accelerometers have been the most extensively used technologies in dairy calves.

SVM Regression to Assess Meat Characteristics of Bísaro Pig Loins Using NIRS Methodology.

This study evaluates the ability of the near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate the aW, protein, moisture, ash, fat, collagen, texture, pigments, and WHC in the (LTL) of Bísaro pig. Samples ( = 40) of the LTL muscle were minced and scanned in an FT-NIR MasterTM N500 (BÜCHI) over a NIR spectral range of 4000-10,000 cm with a resolution of 4 cm. The PLS and SVM regression models were developed using the spectra's math treatment, DV1, DV2, MSC, SNV, and SMT ( = 40).

Use of Infrared Thermography to Assess Body Temperature as a Physiological Stress Indicator in Horses during Ridden and Lunging Sessions.

Equitation is a cause of physiological stress in the equine athlete, and personality is a factor generally associated with the different responses of equines to stressors. This study explored ocular temperature, measured via infrared thermography, associated with personality and stress in horses submitted to dressage exercising in riding lessons, ridden training and lunging. Infrared thermograms of 16 horses were taken before and after sessions using an FLIR F4 camera (FLIR Systems AB, Sweden) to determine maximum eye surface IRT temperature (IRTmax), and total training time was registered (T).

Growth Performance, Carcass and Meat Traits of Autochthonous Weaners Raised on Traditional and Improved Feeding Systems.

is an autochthonous bovine breed known for its PDO beef labeling. There are several production systems under the definition of PDO labeling. This study aimed to compare the effect of different production systems on carcass and meat traits for the breed.

In Vivo Ultrasound Prediction of the Fillet Volume in Senegalese Sole ().

Senegalese sole () has been considered a promising new flatfish species for Mediterranean marine fish farming. Accurate prediction of fillet traits in live animals may allow for more efficient control of muscle deposition in fish. In this sense, this study was undertaken to develop a non-invasive method to predict in vivo fish fillet volume and yield using real-time ultrasonography (RTU).

Effect of Total Replacement of Soya Bean Meal by Whole Lupine Seeds and of Gender on the Meat Quality and Fatty Acids Profile of Growing Rabbits.

In Europe, the most appropriate strategy to replace soybean meal (SBM) in animal feed has been the development of diets containing locally produced protein sources. One of these sources is lupine (Lupinus spp.).

Introducing Mediterranean Lupins in Lamb Diets: Effects on Carcass Composition, Meat Quality, and Intramuscular Fatty Acid Profile.

The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal by lupins on lambs’ diets, on the carcass traits, meat characteristics, and meat fatty acid profile. Two trials were conducted: In trial 1, the soybean meal (control; C) was partially replaced by Lupinus albus or Lupinus luteus (50 g/kg; LA5 and LL5, respectively); in trial 2, lambs were fed four diets with graded levels of Lupinus luteus (0, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg; C, LL10, LL15, LL20, respectively). At the end of the feeding trials, animals were slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics and meat composition, including fatty acids.

Extensive Sheep and Goat Production: The Role of Novel Technologies towards Sustainability and Animal Welfare.

Sheep and goat extensive production systems are very important in the context of global food security and the use of rangelands that have no alternative agricultural use. In such systems, there are enormous challenges to address. These include, for instance, classical production issues, such as nutrition or reproduction, as well as carbon-efficient systems within the climate-change context.

Correction: Silva et al. Precision Technologies to Address Dairy Cattle Welfare: Focus on Lameness, Mastitis and Body Condition. 2021, , 2253.

The authors (Silva, S.R., et al.

Assessing the Feasibility of Using Kinect 3D Images to Predict Light Lamb Carcasses Composition from Leg Volume.

This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the leg volume obtained by the Microsoft Kinect sensor to predict the composition of light lamb carcasses. The trial was performed on carcasses of twenty-two male lambs (17.6 ± 1.

Precision Technologies to Address Dairy Cattle Welfare: Focus on Lameness, Mastitis and Body Condition.

Specific animal-based indicators that can be used to predict animal welfare have been the core of protocols for assessing the welfare of farm animals, such as those produced by the Welfare Quality project. At the same time, the contribution of technological tools for the accurate and real-time assessment of farm animal welfare is also evident. The solutions based on technological tools fit into the precision livestock farming (PLF) concept, which has improved productivity, economic sustainability, and animal welfare in dairy farms.

Evaluation of an Image Analysis Approach to Predicting Primal Cuts and Lean in Light Lamb Carcasses.

Carcass dissection is a more accurate method for determining the composition of a carcass; however, it is expensive and time-consuming. Techniques like VIA are of great interest once they are objective and able to determine carcass contents accurately. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of a flexible VIA system to determine the weight and yield of the commercial value of carcass cuts of light lamb.

Introducing Mediterranean Lupins in Lambs' Diets: Effects on Growth and Digestibility.

Lupins are suitable candidates to replace soybean meal in livestock feeding in the Mediterranean area, presenting a solution for the European Union's dependence on soybean importations. This study aimed to assess the effect of incorporating and into lambs' diets on growth performance and digestibility. Two trials were conducted over two years.

Intramuscular Fat Prediction Using Color and Image Analysis of Bísaro Pork Breed.

This work presents an analytical methodology to predict meat juiciness (discriminant semi-quantitative analysis using groups of intervals of intramuscular fat) and intramuscular fat (regression analysis) in Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle of Bísaro pigs using as independent variables the animal carcass weight and parameters from color and image analysis. These are non-invasive and non-destructive techniques which allow development of rapid, easy and inexpensive methodologies to evaluate pork meat quality in a slaughterhouse. The proposed predictive supervised multivariate models were non-linear.

Simultaneously prediction of sheep and goat carcass composition and body fat depots using in vivo ultrasound measurements and live weight.

The present study established multiple linear regression models using two ultrasound in vivo measurements (at lumbar and sternal regions, with different real-time ultrasonography machines and probes) and live weight, to predict simultaneously carcass composition and body fat depots of different breeds of sheep and goat. This study is important for the small ruminant industry, considering the feasibility of using the ultrasound methodology in field conditions, as well as an online system of the carcass evaluation. The multiple linear regression models were obtained by selecting the best subset of variables between using the in vivo measurements (raw variables), their second degree and interactions, evaluated in terms of prediction performance using cross-validation "K-folds" and validated by a test group.

Non-Destructive Imaging and Spectroscopic Techniques for Assessment of Carcass and Meat Quality in Sheep and Goats: A Review.

In the last decade, there has been a significant development in rapid, non-destructive and non-invasive techniques to evaluate carcass composition and meat quality of meat species. This article aims to review the recent technological advances of non-destructive and non-invasive techniques to provide objective data to evaluate carcass composition and quality traits of sheep and goat meat. We highlight imaging and spectroscopy techniques and practical aspects, such as accuracy, reliability, cost, portability, speed and ease of use.