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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Sci J / Effect of nutritive level on carcass traits and meat quality...
Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho2014; 85(7); 780-786; doi: 10.1111/asj.12203

Effect of nutritive level on carcass traits and meat quality of IHDH foals.

Abstract: The present work describes the effect of nutritive level on horse carcass traits and on meat quality. Eighteen male Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHDH) breed foals were employed in the study. Soon after foaling they were randomly subdivided into three groups according to three nutritive level classes: 150%, 180% and 200% of maintenance requirements. Live weight, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage of each animal were recorded. After slaughtering, meat samples were collected from Longissimus dorsi muscle. The right half carcass of each animal was then divided into cuts. Each one was subdivided into lean, fat and bones. Live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage were not affected by nutritive level (P>0.05). Horses fed with the lower nutritive level showed a higher incidence of lean and a lower incidence of fat (P0.05). Probably the tendency of IHDH foals to concentrate adipogenesis in the subcutaneous district could explain the lack of influence of nutritive level on meat quality parameters and its influence on carcass and cut composition, which tend to be richer in fat.
© 2014 The Authors. Animal Science Journal published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2014-06-24 PubMed ID: 24961285PubMed Central: PMC4140599DOI: 10.1111/asj.12203Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article evaluates how varying levels of nutrition impact the carcass traits and meat quality of the Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHDH) breed.

Study Design and Procedures

  • The researchers selected eighteen male Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHDH) foals for the study.
  • These foals were divided randomly into three groups serving different nutritive levels: 150%, 180%, and 200% of maintenance requirements.
  • Data on live weight, hot carcass weight, and dressing percentage for each animal were kept track of.
  • Post slaughtering, meat samples were collected from the Longissimus dorsi muscle (a major muscle extending along the horse’s spine).
  • Each right half carcass of the animal was then divided into cuts, and each cut further broken down into lean, fat, and bone sections.

Key Findings

  • The nutritive level had no remarkable effect on the live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage of each horse (P>0.05; P represents probability, and a value above 0.05 signifies statistical insignificance).
  • The horses fed with a lower nutritive level showed more lean and less fat in their carcass composition (P<0.01; a P value below 0.01 means the results are statistically significant).
  • The fatty acid profile, an important determinant of meat quality, was not influenced by the nutritive level (P>0.05).

Conclusions and Interpretations

  • The researchers theorize that the tendency of IHDH foals to concentrate adipogenesis (fat cell formation) in the subcutaneous district (beneath the skin) may explain why nutritive level doesn’t impact meat quality parameters yet influences carcass and cut composition.
  • It suggests that a higher nutritive level doesn’t necessarily correlate to an increase in meat quality or overall weight, but is likely to result in a carcass with more fat composition due to the nature of fat storage in this breed.

Cite This Article

APA
De Palo P, Tateo A, Maggiolino A, Centoducati P. (2014). Effect of nutritive level on carcass traits and meat quality of IHDH foals. Anim Sci J, 85(7), 780-786. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.12203

Publication

Animal science journal = Nihon chikusan Gakkaiho
ISSN: 1740-0929
NlmUniqueID: 100956805
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 85
Issue: 7
Pages: 780-786

Researcher Affiliations

De Palo, Pasquale
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
Tateo, Alessandra
    Maggiolino, Aristide
      Centoducati, Pasquale

        MeSH Terms

        • Adipogenesis / physiology
        • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
        • Animals
        • Fatty Acids / metabolism
        • Food Quality
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Meat
        • Nutritive Value

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