45H-12 |
ß-Carotene and lutein content in forage and in bovine adipose tissue in two tropical regions of Mexico |
R. REYNOSO-CAMACHO1, V. Nieves2, O. Mora3, A. Shimada3, and E. Gonzalez de Mejia4. (1) Programa de Posgrado en Alimentos del Centro de la República, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, Queretaro, 76010, Mexico, (2) Research and Graduate studies in Food Science, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico, (3) Laboratorio de Rumiología y Metabolismo Nutricional, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ajuchitlán, Queretaro, Mexico, (4) Dept. of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1201 W. Gregory Dr., 228 ERML, MC-051, Urbana, IL 61801 Fresh pasture is rich in carotenoid pigments and their ingestion by cattle can produce yellow fat pigmentation, which represents an important economic loss for the meat producer. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the content of ß-carotene and lutein in two forages and their influence on the concentration of the same carotenoids in adipose tissue of grass fed cattle slaughtered in two tropical regions of Mexico. The content of ß-carotene and lutein were analyzed in dry tropic (DT) and in humid tropic (HT) pastures. Analyses were made of two forage species (Cynodosn dactilon and Digitaria decumbens) at three sampling times (July 14, 21 and 28). Adipose tissue samples were taken from animals slaughtered in each geographical region during the same grass collection period. No significant differences in carotenoid content were found among forage species for both regions. In DT, the average levels of ß-carotene and lutein of both forages combined were 5.2 and 5.4 mg/100g respectively. In HT they were 14.2 and 18.5 mg/100g respectively. Concentration of ß-carotene and lutein declined after 15 days to 26.6% and 59.3% in HT and to 53.6% and 51.7% in DT. The concentration of ß-carotene in adipose tissue of cattle fed in HT (34.7 mg/100g) was higher (p<0.05) than in DT (12.3 mg/100g). The content of ß-carotene in female animals (42 mg/100g) was superior (p<0.05) to that in males (26 mg/100g). No differences were found between region and sex for lutein concentration. It is concluded that the climatic conditions can affect the content of carotenoids in forages. Furthermore, the carotenoid content in pasture can have an effect over its deposition in cattle adipose tissue when they are grazed in different environmental regions.
Session 45H, International: General
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