Benefits of forage systems on product quality

Michael Richard F Lee Reader in Sustainable Livestock Systems and Food Security

School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol &

North Wyke, Rothamsted Research (FSLRA)

Quality animal products from forage

Designing natural feed systems to produce quality beef and milkin a sustainable and efficient manner. Incorporating research on:

Productquality

Animal performance

Systems(forage-based)

Price and a perception of product quality

Why we buy: Food safety Nutritional value and colour shelf life Production methods

•Lifestyle •Animal welfare/exploitation•Health

•Alternatives to animal products

•Environmental impact•Food scares

PRICE

Nutritional Value - Fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) linoleic acid (18:2n-6) α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3; EPA) docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA)

Monounsaturated18:1 n-9

Saturated

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

mg/

100g

mus

cle

Total fatty acids

Holstein-FriesianWelsh BlackBelgium Blue (DM)

14:0; 16:0 and 18:0

Forages

Oils and oilseeds

rapeseed C18:1n-9 oleic acid

soybean C18:2n-6 linoleic acid

linseed C18:3n-3 linolenic acid

echium C18:4n-3 stearidonic acid

Fish oil and marine algae - long chain C20 EPA and DHA

Plant lipids

Fatty acids in beef

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) linoleic acid (18:2n-6) α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3; EPA) docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA)

Monounsaturated18:1 n-9

Saturated

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

mg/

100g

mus

cle

Total fatty acids

Holstein-FriesianWelsh BlackBelgium Blue (DM)

14:0; 16:0 and 18:0

mouth abomasum

Rumen

Organelle phospho- & galacto lipid

FFA

Lipolysis

Dietary Lipid

FFA C18 PUFA

Conjugated dienes and trienes

Trans C18:1

C18:0

Lipolysis

BiohydrogenationCell Bound

Free

Biohydrogenation

C18:3 n-3 92%

C18:2 n-6 86%

Red Clover PPO

Fish Oil

Plant Secondary Metabolites

Protozoa

Green Odour

Animal Science Programme

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in red clover

• Oxidises phenols to quinones in the presence of oxygen• Quinones are very reactive• Quinones bind to proteins to give protein-quinone complexes

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

mg

100g

mus

cle

18:3n-3 20:5n-3 22:5n-3 22:6n-3

ConcSilage

Phytanic acid

Rumenic acid (cis-9 trans-11 CLA)

Colour shelf life

Loin steaks aged for 10d and displayed for 14d

LCA of Pasture Based Beef – Impact and Value

Whole system comparison of beef production on three pasture based sustainable

management systems

Soil Atmosphere Farm Management

% Moisture Rainfall Field inputs/outputs

Temperature CO2 and N2O Liveweight gain

pH Farm activities

Bulk density Labour hours

N, P & C status Machine hours

Water

Temperature

Conductivity

TurbiditypH

Dissolved O2

Ammonium

NitrateDissolved organic C

15 flume laboratories

@farmplatform

follow us on

Flow cell & sensors

Automated LiCor chambers

Meteorological stations

North Wyke Farm

Platform

www.globalfarmplatform.org