Nutrient database improvement project: The influence of U.S.D.A. Quality and Yield Grade on the separable components and proximate composition of raw and cooked retail cuts from the beef rib and plate

Beef nutrition is important to the worldwide beef industry. The objective of this study was to analyze proximate composition of eight beef rib and plate cuts to update the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR). Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the influence of USDA Quality Grade on the separable components and proximate composition of the examined retail cuts. Carcasses (n = 72) representing a composite of Yield Grade, Quality Grade, gender and genetic type were identified from six regions across the U.S. Beef plates and ribs (IMPS #109 and 121C and D) were collected from the selected carcasses and shipped to three university meat laboratories for storage, retail fabrication, cooking, and dissection and analysis of proximate composition. These data provide updated information regarding the nutrient content of beef and emphasize the influence of common classification systems (Yield Grade and Quality Grade) on the separable components, cooking yield, and proximate composition of retail beef cuts.     

Impact of transportation of feedlot cattle to the harvest facility on the prevalence of Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Salmonella, and total aerobic microorganisms on hides

Prevalences of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and total aerobic microorganisms were determined on the hides of beef feedlot cattle before and after transport from the feedyard to the harvest facility in clean and dirty trailers. Swab samples were taken from the midline and withers of 40 animals on each of 8 days before and after shipping. After samples were collected, animals were loaded in groups of 10 on upper and lower levels of clean and dirty trailers. Animals were unloaded at the harvest facility and kept in treatment groups for sample collection after exsanguination. Salmonella was found more often on hide swabs collected from the midline than on than samples collected from the withers from animals transported in both clean and dirty trailers. Salmonella was found on significantly more hide swabs collected at harvest from both sampling locations than on those collected at the feedyard, with no differences attributed to the type of trailer. At the feedyard, clean trucks had a lower percentage of Salmonella-positive samples than did dirty trucks before animals were loaded. However, after transport, both clean and dirty trucks had a similar prevalence of Salmonella. There were no differences in Salmonella prevalence on hides collected from animals transported on the top and bottom levels of clean and dirty trucks. E. coli O157:H7 was detected on less than 2% of the samples; therefore, no practical conclusions about prevalence could be drawn. Hides sampled at harvest had higher concentrations of aerobic microorganisms than did hides sampled at the feedyard, and concentrations were higher on the midline than on the withers. Although the prevalences of Salmonella and total aerobic microorganisms increased on hides after transport from the feedyardto the plant, this increase was not related to the cleanliness of the trailers or the location of the cattle in the trailers.     

Encapsulationof lycopene from watermelon in calcium‐alginate microparticles using an optimised inverse‐gelation method by response surface methodology

Lycopene exhibits strong antioxidant activity due to its unsaturated molecular bonds, which also contributes to its susceptibility for degradation. Encapsulation techniques can reduce lycopene degradation, increasing its potential applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals. The objective of this study was to optimise the encapsulation of lycopene from watermelon in alginate microparticles using the inverse gelation method. Box–Behnken design was used for the optimisation of three variables: concentrations of alginate (w/v %) and CaCl₂ (g L^?1), and gelation time (min). Two types of alginate were investigated (low viscosity and high viscosity) and optimised separately using encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity as responses. Results indicated that the models had a good fit to the experimental data and the optimal conditions varied depending on the type of alginate. In general, particles prepared with low‐viscosity alginate exhibited higher encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity and could be used for further research.     

Iron sulfate and feed pelleting to detoxify free gossypol in cottonseed diets for dairy cattle.

Thirty-two lactating cows were fed ad libitum diets with 1) 18.7% soybean meal, 2) diet 1 plus 500 ppm supplemental Fe from FeSO4.H2O, 3) 15% whole cottonseed, or 4) diet 3 plus 500 ppm Fe from FeSO4.H2O. Dry matter intakes were similar except for cows fed diet 2, which was lower. Cows fed whole cottonseed diets ingested 23 g/d of free gossypol per cow. Free gossypol apparently excreted was lower than its intake. Iron excretion was similar to Fe intake. Blood metabolites and productive performance did not differ among the diet groups. No signs of gossypol toxicity were observed. Twelve neonatal Holstein male calves were fed a commercial milk replacer for 4 wk, then were allowed ad libitum access to diets with 1) 27% soybean meal, 2) 50% whole cottonseed, or 3) diet 2 plus 500 ppm Fe from FeSO4.H2O. Dry matter intakes were similar but slightly lower for calves fed diet 3. Daily individual intakes of free gossypol from diets 2 and 3 were 2 g, which was lower than the expected 4 g due to an apparent effect of pelleting. Blood metabolites did not differ among the groups, and calves averaged about .6 kg of daily gain on these diets. A follow-up study showed that pelleting reduced free gossypol by as much as 70% in whole cottonseed and by 48% in cottonseed meal. Pelleting represents a mechanism to decrease the toxicity of gossypol in cottonseed products.     

Formation of aqueous MgUO2(CO3)3(2-) complex and uranium anion exchange mechanism onto an exchange resin

The formation of and stability constants for aqueous Mg-UO2-CO3 complexes were determined using an anion exchange method. Magnesium concentration was varied (up to 20 mmol/L) at constant ionic strength (I = 0.101, 0.202, 0.304, 0.406, and 0.509 mol/kg NaNO3), pH 8.1, total [U(VI)] = 10.4 micromol/L under equilibrium with atmospheric CO2. The results indicate that only the MgUO2(CO3)3(2-) complex is formed. The cumulative formation constant extrapolated to zero ionic strength is similar regardless of the activity correction convention used: logbeta113(0) = 25.8 +/- 0.5 using the Davies equation and = 25.02 +/- 0.08 using specific ion interaction theory (SIT). Uranium sorption onto the exchange resin decreased in the presence of Mg putatively due to the formation of MgUO2(CO3)3(2-) that had a lower affinity for the resin than UO2(CO3)3(4-). Uranium sorption results are consistent with an equivalent anion exchange reaction between NO3- and UO2(CO3)3(4-) species to retain charge neutrality regardless of Mg concentration. No Mg was associated with the anion exchange resin indicating that the MgUO2(CO3)3(2-) complex did not sorb.     

Changes in deposition of phytoplankton constituents in a Ca2+ polluted lake

Systematic reductions in the deposition rate of organic C, N, P, and chlorophyll (Chl) are documented for Ca2+ polluted, culturally eutrophic, Onondaga Lake, NY, based on analyses of weekly sediment trap collections over the May-October interval for 10 years of the 1980-1992 period. Inputs of both nutrient-rich domestic waste and industrial salt waste (including Ca2+) decreased over this period. Constituent ratios of the collected sediment indicate phytoplankton biomass was the dominant source of the deposited organic C, N, and Chl. Substantial decreases in downward fluxes of these constituents occurred starting in 1987: 37, 42, 25, and 54%, on average, for organic C, N, P, and Chl, respectively. These reductions were driven primarily by the decreases in the lake's salinity and Ca2+ concentration, that resulted from the closure of a soda ash manufacturing facility (1986), rather than decreases in water column P concentrations from reductions in domestic waste loading. Three different mechanisms for the decreased deposition, related to the reductions in salinity and Ca2+ concentration, are considered: (i) decrease in coating of phytoplankton with CaCO3 precipitate, (ii) increased grazing of phytoplankton by large cladocerans, and (iii) decreases in coagulation of phytoplankton. The greater loss of phytoplankton biomass through deposition, driven by salt waste inputs from the industry, exacerbated the lake's problem of high primary production. This response is consistent with ecological theory for nutrient saturated phytoplankton growth but has not previously been demonstrated on a whole-lake basis.     

Responses of lactating Holstein cows to chilled drinking water in high ambient temperatures

In Experiment 1, 12 lactating Holstein cows were provided drinking water of either 10.6 or 27.0 degrees C for 24 h/d in a changeover design to examine the effects of water temperature on feed intake, water intake, respiration rate, rectal temperature, plasma thyroid hormone concentration, and milk yield. The 1st wk of each 3-wk treatment period was for adjustment and the next 2 wk were comparison periods. Least squares means for DM intake as a percentage of body weight were 3.68 and 3.57 for 10.6 and 27.0 degrees C treatment groups. Water intakes in liters per kilogram of dry feed consumed as a percentage of body weight were 21.3 and 20.3. Respiration rates were 70.5 and 81.0 breaths per minute; rectal temperatures were 39.7 and 39.9 degrees C, Triiodothyronine averaged .88 and .75 ng/ml; thyroxine, 42.4 and 39.2 ng/ml; cortisol, 3.03 and 2.06 ng/ml; and progesterone in milk, 4.58 and 3.15 ng/ml for the 10.6 and 27.0 degrees C treatment groups. Milk yield averaged 25.9 and 24.7 kg/d and FCM averaged 25.6 and 23.6 kg/d, respectively. In Experiment 2, 24 cows given a choice of chilled or warm water showed a clear preference (about 98%) for the warm water. If cows are given chilled water of 10 degrees C continuously, no warm drinking water should be available. Chilled drinking water lowered respiration rates and body temperatures and increased feed intake and milk yield.     

Consumer Assessment of Beef Tenderloin Steaks from Various USDA Quality Grades at 3 Degrees of Doneness

A consumer study was conducted to determine palatability ratings of beef tenderloin steaks from USDA Choice, USDA Select, and USDA Select with marbling scores from Slight 50 to 100 (USDA High Select) cooked to various degrees of doneness. Steaks were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 degree of doneness categories: very‐rare, medium‐rare, or well‐done. Consumers (N = 315) were screened for preference of degree of doneness and fed 4 samples of their preferred doneness (a warm‐up and one from each USDA quality grade treatment in a random order). Consumers evaluated steaks on an 8‐point verbally anchored hedonic scale for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall like as well as rated steaks as acceptable or unacceptable for all palatability traits. Quality grade had no effect (P > 0.05) on consumer ratings for tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall like scores, with all traits averaging above a 7 (“like very much”) on the 8‐point scale. In addition, no differences (P > 0.05) were found in the percentage of samples rated as acceptable for all palatability traits, with more than 94% of samples rated acceptable for each trait in all quality grades evaluated. Steaks cooked to well‐done had lower (P < 0.05) juiciness scores than steaks cooked to very‐rare or medium‐rare and were rated lower for tenderness (P < 0.05) than steaks cooked to a very‐rare degree of doneness. Results indicate consumers were not able to detect differences in tenderness, juiciness, flavor, or overall like among beef tenderloin steaks from USDA Choice and Select quality grades.     

Effect on weaner pig performance and diet microbiology of feeding a liquid diet acidified to pH 4 with either lactic acid or through fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici

The effect of feeding newly weaned pigs acidified liquid diets was investigated. The control diet was acidified to about pH 4 with lactic acid (LA). A second diet of the same formulation was acidified to about pH 4 by fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici (PA). Forty‐eight weaner pigs (weight 7 kg±1 kg, age 24±4 days) were allocated to the two dietary treatments according to a randomised block design and fed ad libitum for 28 days. Food intake, daily gain and water intake were recorded, and a microbial assessment of the liquid diet was conducted. Reducing pH<4.0 in either of the liquid diets was effective in eliminating coliform bacteria. There were no significant differences in any of the performance parameters measured. The average daily liveweight gain overall was 474 and 496±17.8 g d⁻¹ for PA and LA, respectively, with a feed conversion ratio overall of 1.15 and 1.11±0.025 for PA and LA, respectively. Fermentation of liquid diets for newly weaned piglets could provide a more cost effective means of acidifying diets than the use of organic acids. Reducing the pH of the liquid diet to 4.00 by fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici was a cost effective method of eliminating enteropathogens and spoilage organisms from the diet. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry