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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Red propolis extract reduces the lipid oxidation of lamb meat

João Wilian Dias Silva A , Vitor Visintin Silva de Almeida B , Aline Cardoso Oliveira B , Leandro Soares Santos A , Tarcísio Ribeiro Paixão A , Ana Paula Gomes da Silva A , Laize Vieira Santos A , Dorgival Morais de Lima Júnior https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1154-8579 C * and Robério Rodrigues Silva A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Animal Science, State University of Southwest Bahia, Itapetinga, Bahia 45700-000, Brazil.

B Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Alagoas, Arapiraca, Alagoas 57072-970, Brazil.

C Department of Animal Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte 59625-900, Brazil.

* Correspondence to: juniorzootec@yahoo.com.br

Handling Editor: Robyn Warner

Animal Production Science 64, AN23013 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23013
Submitted: 10 January 2023  Accepted: 5 April 2024  Published: 2 May 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Brazilian red propolis stands out for its diverse composition, which includes phenolic compounds whose effects may be similar to those of synthetic feed additives.

Aims

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of red propolis extract on the carcass and meat characteristics of lambs finished under confinement conditions.

Methods

The meat quality characteristics of the longissimus lumborum muscle were evaluated in 35 Santa Inês lambs, with an average age of 5 months and an initial average body weight of 17.08 ± 2.36 kg (mean ± s.d.), submitted to five distinct treatments (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 mL of red propolis extract/animal.day) over 68 days.

Key results

The use of propolis did not affect (P > 0.05) the characteristics of the carcass, as well as the chemical composition and cholesterol content. Among the physico-chemical parameters of meat, only the shear force had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05). There was also an exponential effect for lipid oxidation (P < 0.05), where the treatment with propolis had greater antioxidant effect. Meat with a lower content (P < 0.05) of saturated fatty acids was observed in sheep that received extract. There was also an increase (P < 0.05) in the content of monounsaturated acids and consequently an improvement in nutritional quality, atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes of desirable fatty acids.

Conclusions

The red propolis extract improved the lipid profile of the lamb meat. We recommend the inclusion of 7 mL red propolis extract/animal.day (or 59.50 mg total flavoloids/animal.day) in the diet of lambs finished under confinement conditions.

Implications

The red propolis extract proved to be a viable alternative as a natural feed additive.

Keywords: additive, bioactive components, Dalbergia ecastophyllum, fatty acids, flavonoids, meat oxidation, phenolic compounds, sheep.

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