Inclusion of Beta-Carotene in Beef
Nutritional Content
What are the benefits of ?-carotene supplementation in ruminants?
Supplementation with ?-carotene can increase pregnancy rate in heat-stressed cows by 14% (Arechiga et al., 1998) and reduce the incidence of retained placenta in multiparous cows (Oliveira et al., 2015). Nutritional strategies in ruminants, such as ?-carotene supplementation, can have long-term benefits for animal health and productivity.
Does supplementation with ?-carotene improve lipid metabolism in beef cattle?
Supplementation with ?-carotene improved lipid metabolism in the back fat of beef cattle, as demonstrated by a CSIRO study in Animal Production Science in 2016. The study found that when steers were supplemented with 0, 600, 1200, or 1800 mg/day of ?C for 90 days, those receiving the largest dosage showed the greatest improvements to their lipid metabolism.
Can cow cells be engineered to produce beta carotene?
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully engineered cow cells to produce beta carotene, a provitamin usually found in carrots and tomatoes, which could potentially increase the nutritional value of cell-cultured meat. On ScienceDaily, 2020, they demonstrated that by using the same carotenoid pathway exploited in golden rice, bovine cells can be coaxed into producing beta carotene. Beta carotene is known to be a powerful antioxidant and is important for immune system health and vision.
Color
Where can ?-carotene be found?
?-Carotene is found in many orange colored foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and some meats, poultry, and fish, as reported in the study by Antioxidants, published in 2018 on ResearchGate. It has been shown to possess antioxidant properties.
Can feeding ?-carotene to dairy cattle improve their health?
Feeding ?-carotene to dairy cattle can help to increase levels of ?-carotene and vitamin E in their diet, as demonstrated by a study conducted by the University of Bologna in 2015. This may lead to improved longevity and sustainability of cows, as well as better overall health. On average, dairy cattle that are provided with ?-carotene display a 20% increase in their vitamin E and ?-carotene levels.
What is the preferred fat colour for consumers?
The consumers generally prefer firm white fat, which is usually produced from grain feeding over a period of time. Fat colour is assessed using the AUSMEAT fat colour standards, ranging from 0 (white) to 7 (yellow), and the intermuscular fat at the quartering site is used for scoring. MLA Corporate notes that pasture-fed cattle may produce yellowish or creamy coloured fat.
Flavor
What are the benefits of eating grass-fed beef?
Grass-fed beef is a great source of beta-carotene, containing twice the amount of conventional beef. As indicated by a study conducted by WebCattle in 2020, a 3 oz. serving of grass-fed beef can provide 10% of the recommended dietary intake of beta-carotene. The same study found that grass-fed steak and ground beef almost double the beta-carotene content in comparison to conventional beef.
Can muscle cells from cows be engineered to produce beta-carotene?
Cow muscle cells can be engineered to produce beta-carotene, which the human body can convert into vitamin A, as reported in a study published in Metabolic Engineering by Andrew Stout from the University of Bath. This method could be used to fortify the nutritional profile of cell-cultured meat beyond that of conventionally farmed meat. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect against disease and inflammation.
Which vegetable is a good source of Vitamin A?
Butternut squash is one of the best sources of beta-carotene, providing 127% of the daily value of vitamin A per cup when cooked. As reported by WebMD (15 March 2022), spinach is also a good source, delivering 105% of the daily value of vitamin A in one cup. Beta-carotene is an important nutrient for eye health, and is converted by the body into vitamin A.
Texture
Can feeding ?-carotene to dairy cattle improve their vitamin levels?
Feeding ?-carotene to dairy cattle has been shown to increase their levels of ?-carotene and vitamin E, according to a study published in the journal Animal Feed Science and Technology in 2015 by researchers from University of Zaragoza, Spain. This highlights the importance of optimal dietary supply of these vitamins for the health and longevity of dairy cows.
Does supplementing Angus beef cattle with retinyl palmitate offset clinical vitamin A deficiency?
Supplementing Angus beef cattle with retinyl palmitate, at the rate of 60,000 IU vitamin A/100 live weight (LW)/day, can effectively offset clinical vitamin A deficiency and reduce fat deposition and fatty acid, as evidenced by a study from the National Institutes of Health in 2006. This result is consistent with the general understanding that adequate Vitamin A intake is important for healthy metabolic processes.
Hydrogenated fat-spray-coated ?-carotene supplement can significantly increase the concentration of pro-vitamin A carotenoids in common beef cattle feedstuffs, according to a study published in the journal of Animal Science in 2012 by researchers at the University of Oklahoma. Particle size and lipid composition of bovine blood high density lipoprotein were found to have an effect on its ability to act as a carrier for beta-carotene, as reported by Biochimica et Biophysica Acta in 1984.
Odor
Can feeding ?-carotene to dairy cows increase their levels of vitamins?
Feeding ?-carotene to dairy cows can increase their levels of ?-carotene and vitamin E, according to a study published in the Journal of Dairy Science in 2015 by researchers from the University of Cordoba, Spain. This could help to improve cow longevity and sustainability for the dairy industry. Data from the study showed that cows on a diet supplemented with ?-carotene had significantly higher levels of ?-carotene and vitamin E than those on a non-supplemented diet.
What are the properties of ?-Carotene?
?-Carotene is an important carotenoid with a wide range of applications in the market, and its production is regulated by current methods and patents. As mentioned in a study published in 2018 by the University of Porto, the properties of ?-Carotene are highly dependent on its chemical composition and structure. The study also showed that ?-Carotene can be produced through multiple methods such as chemical synthesis, microbial fermentation and extraction from natural sources.
Can lab-grown beef contain beta-carotene?
Lab-grown beef containing beta-carotene, a plant nutrient that is converted into vitamin A in the human body, has been successfully engineered by researchers from Tufts University, as reported on newatlas.com in October 2020. Beta-carotene is an important source of vitamin A, which is vital for good vision and a healthy immune system.
Amount
Is beta-carotene allowed in uncooked meat from animals, except poultry?
Beta-carotene is allowed in certain food products with restrictions, including a maximum of 5 parts per million in forage crops, and no allowed amount in beverages and other foods. Via the FDA's Food Additive Status List from August 2022, it is also allowed as a NUTR (nutritional) or GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredient, but not in uncooked fat of meat from animals except poultry.
Can a UV-Vis spectrophotometric method be used to measure the amount of ?-carotene in chicken meat?
This study concluded that a simple UV-Vis spectrophotometric method is useful for determining the amount of ?-carotene in raw and cooked chicken meat matrices. The linear regression equation found for ?-carotene in raw chicken meat matrix was y = 0.080x + 0.016 (R 2 = 0.985) and for ?- carotene in cooked chicken meat nuggets matrix was y = 0.080x + 0.016 (R 2 = 0.985), as reported in the paper published by ZEKIYE KARAKURT ET AL., in 2011 on Science Direct. Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A and is known to have antioxidant properties.
What are carotenoids?
Carotenoids are a group of natural chemical compounds found in plant pigments that provide red, orange, or yellow colors in food. Via Verywellfit.com, there are over 600 plant carotenoids. Beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin are some of the most common carotenoids found in food and are associated with a variety of health benefits.
Purity
Is grass-fed beef a good source of beta-carotene?
Grass-fed beef is a great source of beta-carotene, providing twice the amount of conventional beef. According to a study by Weatherbury Farm, steak and ground beef offer 64 and 87 ?g of beta-carotene respectively. A 3 oz serving of grass-fed beef can provide up to 10% of the daily recommended intake.
Did supplementing fallow deer feed with concentrates alter their liver and LD muscle chemical compositions?
The inclusion of concentrates in the feed rations of fallow deer did not alter their livers or LD muscles' proximate chemical compositions. As mentioned in a study conducted by researchers from the University of Turin, Italy and published in the journal Animals in 2021, ?-carotene content of meat was significantly higher in ?-carotene-supplemented animals than those fed a maize-based diet (0.19-0.33 µg/g vs 0.18 µg/g). This suggests that adding ?-carotene supplements to feed can positively affect the nutrient content of meat.
Can carotenes be identified using a blue reaction?
The carotenes (vegetable) can be identified by a blue reaction when a solution of the sample in toluene is applied to filter paper with antimony tri chloride solution, as determined by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2020. These carotenes must not contain more than 50 mg/kg of residual solvents such as acetone, hexane, or any combination of these.
Shelf Life
What factors influence the chemical stability of carotenoids in foods?
The chemical stability of carotenoids in foods is influenced by various factors such as conventional emulsions, multi-layer emulsions, and solid-lipid particles, according to a study conducted by WebJun in 2010. This study also showed that beta-carotene radical cation can have an impact on the shelf-life of a food. The results suggest that different chemical properties of carotenoids can affect their stability in different foods.
What are the sources of ?-Carotene?
?-Carotene is an effective food additive used to increase the shelf life of food, due to its antioxidant properties. According to the research published by the University of Malaya in 2018 on ResearchGate, ?-Carotene can be produced synthetically or through natural sources. Its antioxidant properties have been found to be more effective than Vitamin E and Nitric Oxide.
Does grass-fed beef contain more beta-carotene than conventional beef?
Grass-fed beef provides twice the amount of beta-carotene as conventional beef, with a 3 ounce serving providing 10% of the recommended dietary intake. This was demonstrated in a study conducted by WebCattle on ryegrass-fattened cattle, which effectively doubled the beta-carotene content in both steak and ground beef. Beta-carotene is an important nutrient to help maintain healthy vision and skin.
Source
Can supplemental feeding of ?-carotene improve the quality of beef?
Supplemental feeding of ?-carotene has been shown to meet the vitamin A requirement of beef cattle, as it is the precursor of vitamin A (Condron et al., 2014). This has been demonstrated to influence the quality of beef produced from the diet. Recent studies have also shown that levels of both ?-carotene and vitamin A in the diet are important factors in this process.
Does grass-fed beef provide more beta-carotene than conventional beef?
Grass-fed beef is a rich source of beta-carotene, providing two times the amount of beta-carotene compared to conventional beef. As mentioned in a study conducted by WebCattle in 2019, a 3 ounce serving of grass-fed beef can provide 10% of the recommended dietary intake of beta-carotene. Ryegrass-fattened cattle effectively doubles the beta-carotene content in steak and groundbeef.
Where can I find Vitamin A?
Vitamin A can be found in many fortified breakfast cereals, juices, dairy products and other foods as retinol, as well as in fruits and vegetables and some supplements as beta-carotene and lycopene, according to The Nutrition Source from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Vitamin A is known to promote healthy vision, skin and immune system.
Safety
Does supplemental feeding of beta-carotene meet the vitamin A requirements of beef cattle?
Supplemental feeding of ?-carotene is effective in meeting the vitamin A requirement of beef cattle, according to a study by Condron et al. (2014) at University of Kentucky. This has been further demonstrated by recent studies that show increased levels of both ?-carotene and vitamin A in the cattle.
Is beta-carotene safe to use?
Beta-carotene has been proven to be safe for use at dosages of 180 mg/day or more, with no adverse effects other than hypercarotenemia, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health in 1986. Toxicity studies in animals have confirmed that beta-carotene is not carcinogenic or mutagenic.
What is the FDA's Food Additive Status List?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a Food Additive Status List which outlines the rules for color additives in 21 CFR Parts 70, 71, 73, 74, 80 & 82. This list is updated regularly and corrections or additions can be sent to Harold Woodall at the FDA/CFSAN Office of Food Additive. All food businesses must adhere to these regulations to ensure the safety of their products.
Source:
- Sciencedirect : Nutritional strategies, ruminants, A lifetime approach.
- Researchgate : (PDF) ?-Caroteneproperties, production.
- Weatherburyfarm : Grass Fed Beef, Beta Carotene.
- Sciencedirect : Effects, ?, -, carotene, levels, ?, -, carotene, vitamin.
- Newatlas : Lab-grown meat, plant nutrients.
