Search Results (13)

Background: The use of natural feed supplements in rabbit farming can enhance the nutritional value of meat and improve its properties as a functional food. Aim: This study aimed to analyze the effects of supplementing rabbit feed with linseed meal, fodder yeast, and a combination of linseed meal and selenium yeast on meat quality. The study included 45 rabbits kept in household farms, distributed into three groups, namely, the control group (CG—fed a basic diet consisting of alfalfa pellets); group 1 (G1—supplemented with linseed meal and fodder yeast), and group 2 (G2—supplemented with linseed meal and selenium yeast). Following the three-month study period, rabbit meat samples were analyzed for nutritional composition. Results: The results revealed reduced rabbit meat caloricity in G1 and G2 (ME = 111.74 and 112.58 kcal/100 g, respectively), when compared to CG datasets. Peak polyunsaturated fatty acid content was observed in G2, with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids content at 12.326% and 18.382%, respectively. Total mineral content of rabbit meat peaked in G2 (720.99 mg/g), whereas CG (603.71 mg/g) had the lowest content. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that feed supplements such as linseed meal, fodder yeast, and selenium yeast can significantly enhance the nutritional and functional properties of rabbit meat, offering a sustainable approach to producing nutrient-rich animal-derived foods. Full article

Gluten-free products lack bioactive compounds, while vegetable wastes from food manufacturing are still rich in nutrients. This study compared the antioxidants of gluten-free pastas enriched with vegetable by-products: the control formulation (66.7% rice and 33.3% fava bean flours) was enriched with 10% or 15% of tomato waste (TO) or defatted linseed cake (LI). Carotenoids, tocols, phenolics, and antioxidant capacity (ABTS and FRAP) were determined in the cooked pasta as well as in the soluble and insoluble fractions after in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion. The cooked enriched pastas showed higher levels of carotenoids (1.36–1.53 vs. 1.02 mg/kg DM), except for the LI-added samples, tocols (8.83–21.70 vs. 7.01 mg/kg DM), free polyphenols (218.1–258.6 vs. 200.9 mg/kg DM), bound polyphenols (132.7–177.6 vs. 101.9 mg/kg DM), and antioxidant capacity. Cooking augmented the carotenoids and free polyphenols in the enriched pastas, tocols in LI pastas and bound flavonoids in TO pastas. After digestion, the recoveries for soluble and insoluble fractions were 53% and 35% for carotenoids, 52% and 43% for tocols, 109% for free phenolic acids, 97% for free flavonoids, 93% for bound phenolic acids, and 100% for bound flavonoids. Bioaccessibility was the highest for free phenolic compounds, whereas carotenoids and tocols were partially available. Full article

The study aimed to assess the effects of including linseeds or hempseeds in the diets of late lactation Murciano-Granadina dairy goats on the nutritional quality of the milk and cheese fat, expressed by the fatty acids profile and the healthy lipid indices. Thirty-six goats were randomly distributed in 3 groups of 12 animals each, according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design, and fed three different diets: group CON (control, with sunflower meal, 11.5% DM basis); group LIN, where sunflower meal was replaced by linseed; and group HMP, where sunflower meal was replaced by hempseeds. The replacement had no effects on the milk yields and the milk protein content as no significant differences were detected among groups. The significant increase of the fat content in the case of the LIN and HMP groups was accompanied by significant decreases in saturated fatty acids concentration and very significant increases in monounsaturated fatty acids. The content of n3 and n6-PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) increased, mainly due to a 4.1 times higher proportion of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; C 18:3n-3) in LIN diet milk and a 1.3 times higher proportion of linoleic acid (LA; C 18:2n6c) in HMP diet milk. The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; isomer c9, t11) was 1.9 times higher for the LIN diet and 5.05 times higher for the HMP diet. Feeding either linseed or hempseeds contributed to the reduction of the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, increased the hypocholesterolemic: hypercholesterolemic ratio as well as the proportion of other desired fatty acids in the milk fat. The improved nutritional quality of milk, which has potentially far-reaching human health benefits, is maintained in cheese through the increase of the n3 and n6-PUFAs, especially for the LIN diet where the n6/n3 ratio decreased significantly, compared with the CON diet (3.62 vs. 6.88). The CLA concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for the HMP cheese compared with the CON diet (1.89% vs. 0.78%). These effects highlight the opportunity of obtaining dairy products with improved nutritional quality using local feed resources. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate self-produced nutraceutical treats, taking into account the nutritional preferences of dogs, and to analyze the proximate composition, macrominerals and trace elements content. Four variants of snacks were prepared—two extruded and two baked. The snacks consisted of wholegrain buckwheat flour, wholegrain spelt flour, banded cricket meal, dried hemp inflorescences, dry spirulina biomass, linseed (in the case of baked snacks) and guar gum (in the case of extruded snacks). The proximate composition was determined according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Mineral and heavy metal content was analyzed by colorimetry and mass spectrometry. The extruded and baked snacks were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope. The two-bowl test was used as the palatability test. It should be mentioned that when comparing baked snacks to the extruded ones, spaces between starch granules and protein were less visible in the baked snacks but air bubbles were observed suggesting a higher expansion. The mean level of crude fat was twice as high in the baked snacks compared to the extruded snacks. In the case of total carbohydrates, the extruded snacks had a higher content compared to the baked. The analyses showed differences in terms of magnesium content. The average content of trace elements was significantly higher in baked snacks than in the extruded snacks. Dogs preferred the baked variant and the difference between the buckwheat flour content also influenced their preferences—variants richer in buckwheat were chosen less often. This could probably be related to the bitterness in the variant with a higher content of buckwheat flour, which translated into less frequent selection of this variant by dogs. Treats containing insect meal and spirulina can be used in dog nutrition due to their good nutritional value and potential health benefits. Full article

The only therapy for coeliac disease patients is to completely avoid foods containing gluten, a protein complex common in several small-grain cereals. However, many alternative gluten-free foods available on the market present nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the composition and the antioxidant properties of gluten-free pasta enriched with 10% or 15% of tomato waste or linseed meal, two food industry by-products. The traits analysed were protein, lipid, ash and fibre content, heat damage, tocols, carotenoids and phenolics composition (by HPLC), antioxidant capacity, and pasta fracturability. The enriched pastas contained more fibre and lipids than the control, while the protein and ash values were similar. The addition of tomato and linseed waste improved tocols concentration but had no effect on carotenoids content. The free soluble polyphenols increase was similar for both by-products and proportional to the enrichment percentage, while the bound insoluble polyphenols were higher in linseed-enriched pastas. The samples with linseed meal showed the greatest antioxidant capacity and, at 10% addition, the highest fracturability value. In conclusion, the addition of tomato and linseed by-products significantly increases the presence of bioactive compounds (particularly polyphenols), improving the nutritional value of gluten-free pasta. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of a dietary mixture based on extruded linseed and pea (ELP; 20:80 w/w) and probiotics (L. acidophilus) on the performance, biochemical responses, breast muscle fatty acids (FA) profile, and lipid indices in broiler chickens. A total of 480 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned into four groups in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of ELP (0% and 30%) at the expense of soybean meal, corn, and vegetable oil and two levels of probiotic (0 and 20 g ton⁻¹ feed). There were no effects of ELP diet or probiotic supplementation on performance and carcass traits. Feeding the ELP diet increased plasma total protein, urea nitrogen (PUN), and creatinine (Cre) levels with no changes in the PUN/Cre ratio. A probiotic addition lowered the total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. The ELP diet improved the breast muscle FA profile by lowering total saturated FA (SFA) and increasing total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), omega-3 (n-3), unsaturated FA (UFA), PUFA/SFA, and UFA/SFA ratios. Probiotics increased total PUFA, omega-6 (n-6) and decreased the n-6/n-3 ratio, total UFA, and UFA/SFA ratio. Dietary treatment interaction exhibited a synergistic effect for total PUFA and an antagonistic effect for n-3 PUFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in breast muscle. Probiotics reduced some lipid indices (PUFA/SFA ratio, desirable FA and nutritive value index) only when ELP0 was fed. In conclusion, based on these results, using ELP30 alone in broiler diets is recommended to improve meat’s nutritional value for consumers. Full article

The addition of oilseeds and their cakes to the diets of lactating dairy goats is an alternative to supplemental feeding, which improves the lipid profile of goat cheeses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a diet containing extruded linseed or pumpkin seed cake on the fatty acid profile of semi-hard cheese made from goat milk. The research was carried out with 28 French Alpine goats fed the following diets: 1—basal diet based on extruded soybean and soybean meal; 2—basal diet with 90 g/kg DM extruded linseed (ELS); and 3—basal diet with 160 g/kg DM pumpkin seed cake (PSC). Bulk milk from three separated milk tanks at three samplings was used for the manufacture of four traditional semi-hard cheeses from each milk tank at each sampling on the family farm. The ELS and PSC diets increased fat content in the cheese. The ELS feeding increased the proportion of C18:1 c9, C18:2 c9t11, and C18:3 n-3 in cheese and lowered C8:0, C6:0, and C16:0, while PSC resulted in the highest C18:2 n-6 proportions in the cheese. The health-promoting index was the highest in the cheese of ELS. The ELS had a contribution to higher nutritional and health quality of semi-hard traditional goat cheeses, thus representing a food with health-promoting properties. Full article

Six Finnhorse mares were used in a digestibility trial, in which six typical horse diets were compared. The diets were: (A) haylage 100%; (B) hay 100%; (C) hay 70% and oats 30%; (D) hay 70% and soybean meal + oats 30%; (E) hay 70%, rapeseed meal + oats 30% and (F) hay 70 %, linseed meal + oats 30%. The trial was conducted according to an unbalanced 6 × 4 Latin square design with four 3-week experimental periods. The experimental period consisted of 17-day preliminary feeding which was followed by a 4-day total faecal and urine collection periods to evaluate N excretion. The digestibilities of DM (p < 0.001) and OM (p < 0.001) in the haylage-only diet were lower compared to the other diets. The supplemental protein feeds improved the diet digestibility of CP (p = 0.002) compared to a hay + oats diet. Furthermore, the DM (p = 0.019), OM (p = 0.006), and CP (p = 0.016) digestibilities of the soya-supplemented diet were better than those of the rapeseed- and linseed-supplemented diets. Faecal excretion was greater for haylage (19.3 kg fresh faeces and 3.6 kg DM/day) and hay (18.7 kg fresh faeces and 3.6 kg DM/day) diets (p < 0.001) compared with the other diets. Urine excretion was also greater for forage-only diets compared with diets including protein supplements. Horses excreted 14.0 L urine/day on haylage-only diet (p = 0.026) and 14.3 L/day on a hay-only diet (p = 0.003). Horses excreted more nitrogen in their urine than in dung. N excretion differed between the diets. Horses on a haylage-only diet excreted 51.6 g N in faeces/day and on hay-only diet 51.4 g N/day. On the other hand, when protein content in forages increased, N excretion via urine increased (haylage vs. dried hay). Horses excreted less N in urine with hay-only diet than with haylage-only or protein-supplemented diets (p < 0.001). When N excreted in faeces and urine was counted together, horses excreted less N with a hay-only diet (p < 0.001) than with a supplemented one (oats and/or protein feeds). The results showed that feed choices affected the amount of nitrogen excreted. Feeding recommendations should consider not only the horse category and work level, but also the protein source. When good quality protein is fed, smaller N intakes can be applied to reduce the N excretion via urine and dung. At the farm level, improved understanding of feed quality, as well as feeding planning and practices, is a way to decrease the risk of N leaching and evaporation. Full article

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing the diet of laying hens with linseed meal and carotenoids from different sources on egg characteristics, yolk fatty acid and carotenoid profile, and lipid peroxidation. A 4-week experiment was conducted on 168 Lohmann Brown layers (43 weeks of age), assigned to four dietary treatments (42 hens/group; 21 replicate/groups with 2 birds/pen) consisting of a control diet (C) and three diets simultaneously supplemented with 6% linseed meal and 2% dried kapia pepper (E1), 2% dried sea buckthorn pomace (E2) and 2% dried carrot (E3). Every 2 weeks, 18 eggs/group/period were collected randomly from each group and used to determine the egg quality and nutritional parameters. The results showed that dietary linseed meal and carotenoids sources improved egg color, carotenoids’ accumulation in egg yolk and fatty acid profile, especially the n-3 PUFA content. Dietary carotenoids supplementation reduced, n-6/n-3 ratio, cholesterol content of the egg yolk and improved yolk pH, egg thickness and yolk oxidative stability. In conclusion, the use of these sources of carotenoids in the linseed meal enriched diets could be an effective way to improve the nutritional properties of the eggs without affecting their quality and consumer’s safety. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of dietary fatty acids from various sources on growth performance, meat quality, muscle fatty acid deposition and antioxidant capacity in broilers. 126 Arbor Acres broilers (1 d-old, initial body weight of 45.5 ± 0.72 g) were randomly assigned to three treatments with seven cages per treatment and six broilers per cage. The dietary treatments included: (1) corn–soybean meal basal diet containing 3% soybean oil (control diet, CTL); (2) basal diet + 1% microalgae + 1% linseed oil + 1% soybean oil (ML); (3) basal diet + 2% fish oil + 1% soybean oil (FS). The trial consisted of phase 1 (day 1 to 21) and 2 (day 22 to 42). Compared with CTL, broilers fed ML or FS diet showed improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain in phase 1, 2, and overall (day 1 to 42), as well as a decreased (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio in phase 1 and overall. On day 42, broilers supplemented with FS diet showed increased (p ≤ 0.05) the relative weights of pancreas and liver, as well as higher (p < 0.05) redness value in breast and thigh muscle compared with CTL. Broilers offered ML or FS diet had lower (p < 0.05) the relative weight of abdominal fat and total serum cholesterol content in phase 1, and increased (p < 0.05) contents of serum glucose, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosacagetaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity, as well as lower (p < 0.05) concentrations of malondialdehyde, n-6 PUFA, and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in breast and thigh muscle compared with CTL. This research indicates that diets supplemented with fish oil or a combination of microalgae and linseed oil experience improved performance, antioxidant capacities and n-3 PUFA profile in muscle of broilers compared with traditional soybean oil supplemented diets Full article

We investigated changes in nitrogen metabolism and chemical, fatty acid (FA) and amino acid (AA) composition in tissues (longissimus dorsi (LD) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles, heart, spleen, liver and cecum) following the dietary addition of extruded linseed and walnut meal (50:50 mix). Plasma creatinine and urea nitrogen were determined as well. Two trials were designed using barrows (five replicates) allotted in two groups [(control, (SM) and experimental, (LEW))] in metabolic cages. The experimental diet rich in n-3 FA led to a significant increase of retained nitrogen (>8.09% in the LEW group). The biological value of feed protein was 14.8% higher in the LEW group than in the SM group. LD muscles from the SM group and liver from the LEW group had greater nitrogen contents, whereas the heart and spleen had lower concentrations of nitrogen in the LEW group. Diet had a pronounced effect on n-3 FA, particularly on α-linolenic fatty acid (ALA) (p < 0.0001). The highest levels of ALA were recorded in the cecum (>6.06 times in LEW) and heart (>5.44 times in LEW). The highest level of lysine was noticed in the LD muscle (>2.1% in SM). An n-3-rich diet significantly reduced the amount of nitrogen excreted; greater than 40% nitrogen was retained, thus improving the meat composition. Full article

The use of flaxseed flours in the diets of poultry and broilers may be limited by the presence of antinutritive compounds. The content of cyanogenic glycosides, phytic acid, condensed tannins and trypsin inhibitors was evaluated in seven varieties of Linum usitatissimum. Phytic acid, condensed tannins and trypsin inhibitors showed significant differences among varieties. Only the concentration of cyanogenic glycosides and phytic acid in the flour deserves attention, while the content of condensed tannins and trypsin inhibitors are to acceptable levels. Since the flax meal is an important source of omega-3 for poultry and broilers, the cyanogenic glycoside and phytic acid contents in linseed has to be reduced to increase the ration to be included in the diet. Full article

The study investigated the dietary impact of 18:3n-3 vs. 18:2n-6 on fatty acid- and micronutrient concentration of beef muscle and the extent of diet- and processing-induced changes of lipid- and micronutrient concentrations of beef products made thereof (German Corned beef (GCB), tea sausage spread (TSS), scalded sausage (SS)). Beef and beef products were obtained from German Holstein bulls which either received a control diet consisting of maize silage and concentrate with soybean meal (41%), or an experimental diet of grass silage and concentrate plus rapeseed cake (12%) and linseed oil (3%). The study revealed that upon an 18:3n-3 vs. 18:2n-6 intervention the amounts of 18:3n-3, EPA and Σn-3 LC-PUFA were significantly increased by 2.6, 2.3 and 1.7 fold, respectively. Experimental diet significantly increased β-carotene contents, and the γ-tocopherol contents were decreased. During beef processing, n-3 PUFA from beef were found to be product-specifically transferred into the corresponding beef products. 18:3n-3 and Σn-3 LC-PUFA contents were found to be 1.4 and 1.5 times higher in GCB from grass silage- than maize silage-fed bulls. The trace element contents in GCB (iron, copper, zinc, selenium) were not affected by the diet; however γ-tocopherol contents were decreased by experimental diet. In conclusion, dietary n-3 PUFA were completely transferred into beef products unaffected by beef processing conditions. Full article