Lipid Marker: assessing muscle lipid biomarkers to discriminate the feed origin and beef quality of Nellore cattle

• Grant number: 23/07089-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Silva Antonelo
• Grantee: Daniel Silva Antonelo
• Company: Daniel Silva Antonelo Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: Pirassununga
• Associated researchers: Christina Ramires Ferreira ; Júlio Cesar de Carvalho Balieiro
• Associated research grant: 22/01639-4 - Lipid marker: assessing muscle lipid biomarkers to discriminate the feed origin and beef quality of Nellore cattle, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/16921-2 - Lipid Marker: model construction and prototype validation capable of discriminating the feeding regimen origin and beef quality from Nelore cattle, BP.TT; 23/16121-3 - Lipid Marker: assessing muscle lipid biomarkers to discriminate the feed origin and beef quality of Nellore cattle, BP.TT; 23/13803-6 - Lipid Marker: assessing muscle lipid biomarkers to discriminate the feed origin and beef quality of Nellore cattle, BP.TT; 23/11236-7 - Lipid marker: assessing muscle lipid biomarkers to discriminate the feed origin and beef quality of Nellore cattle, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The global beef chain has been geared towards meeting the quality demands of the consumer market. Color and tenderness are generally considered to be the most important quality characteristics that affect beef consumer acceptance. In addition, the demand for "green" or grass-fed beef, characterized by meat from animals raised and finished on pasture, has grown substantially in recent years. However, currently, certifications of feed origin and beef quality, when they do not exist, are based on inspections at the slaughterhouse and on filling out documents. Conventional meat chain certifications and assurance schemes are not based on biomarkers, but on self-verification and the honor system. Therefore, the objective of this project is to form the first database of muscle lipidome in Nellore cattle and, based on its evaluation, determine lipid biomarkers capable of early discrimination of feed origin (pasture x feedlot) and meat quality (pH and tenderness class). The research project carried out during PIPE-Phase 1 was divided into three proposals: 1) discrimination of feed origin (pasture- or feedlot-finished Nellore cattle); 2) ultimate muscle pH classification [high and normal pH]); and 3) meat tenderness classification (tender or tough cuts, based on shear force). It can be observed that even with a reduced sample number, the partial results obtained in Phase 1 are promising because they manage to establish a high prediction of the model, at 30 min post-mortem, regarding the discrimination of feed origin (n = 61; 96, 2% predictive accuracy), ultimate pH classification (n = 34; 90.1% predictive accuracy) and meat tenderness (n = 20; 73.3% predictive accuracy). The Innovation Project for PIPE-Phase 2 will be divided into the same three aforementioned proposals. One thousand Nellore cattle finished in pasture (n = 500) and feedlot system (n = 500) will be evaluated in commercial slaughterhouses. Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples will be collected between the 12th and 13th rib at 30 min for muscle lipidome analysis. For Proposal #1, samples from animals finished on pasture or feedlot will be compared to determine their feed origin. For Proposal #2, pH48h will be determined to classify the samples into two treatments: 1) pHu d 5.8 [Normal]; and 2) pHu e 6.0 [High]. For Proposal#3, samples classified as normal pHu will be further evaluated for instrumental beef tenderness and reclassified into two treatments: 1) shear force d 50 [Tender]; and 2) shear force e 80 [Tough]. Muscle lipidome will be profiled using the multiple reaction monitoring profile methodology. After creating the muscle lipidome database, multivariate analyzes (chemometrics) will be performed to assess discrimination between treatments. Subsequently, a multivariate exploratory analysis based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC curve) will be coupled with the objective of building a predictive model based on lipid biomarkers capable of discriminating the feed origin and beef quality. After validation of lipid biomarkers, a non-invasive prototype using a surface sampling device (MasSpec Pen SystemTM) will be developed to generate a fast and objective result in real time. Finally, when the prototype is validated in a laboratory environment, it will be tested in an operational environment. (AU)