Feeding microalgae (Schizochytrium limacinum) to beef steers increases meat omega-3 content

• Autor(a) principal: Demeda, Mateus Alan
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Tomaluski, Cristiane Regina, Baggio, Cintiamara, Mateus, Karina A., Petrolli, Tiago Goulart, Mueller, Lenise Freitas, Pereira, Angélica Simone Cravo, Griebler, Letieri, Zotti, Claiton André
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/4568
• topic: Ácidos grasos; Canal; Ganado vacuno.; Ácidos graxos; Carcaça; Gado de corte.; Fatty acids; Carcass traits; Beef cattle.

New alternatives to increase the content of polyunsaturated beef fat are necessary. Feed supplements like microalgae are a strategy to enrich meat with omega 3. The aim of the study was to evaluate growth performance, fatty acid profile of meat and carcass characteristics of steers fed with microalgae in the diet. Sixteen steers (mean weight 299.6 ± 7.4 kg, seven months) were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (CTL) and the microalgae group (ALG; daily feeding of 1.7% of dry matter as microalgae). The diet (40% corn silage and 60% concentrate) was offered twice daily for 84 days. Microalgae supplementation was associated with a 4.44-fold increase in total omega-3 fatty acids in the longissimus thoracis and lumbar muscle, reflecting a 3.6-fold reduction in the omega-6: omega-3 ratio. The concentration of 20: 5n3 and 22: 6n3 increased by 7 and 20.5 times, respectively, with the addition of microalgae. However, microalgae decreased the consumption of dry matter (P <0.0001) by 16.5%, the average daily gain (P = 0.035) by 19.1% and the muscle water-holding capacity (P = 0.02) by 5.5% compared to control. The use of microalgae reduces growth performance, but does not alter the characteristics of the carcass and has the potential to improve the FA profile of the omega 3 series. Consumers may be attracted to increase their intake of polyunsaturated omega 3 fat from beef. These results can support the decision of nutritionists and farmers to use microalgae in beef cattle, as it becomes economically viable.