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Research Project
Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food
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Publications
Effect on Broiler Production Performance and Meat Quality of Feeding Ulva lactuca Supplemented with Carbohydrases
Publication . Costa, Mónica M.; Pestana, José M.; Carvalho, Patrícia; Alfaia, Cristina M.; Martins, Cátia F.; Carvalho, Daniela; Mourato, Miguel; Gueifão, Sandra; Delgado, Inês; Coelho, Inês; Lemos, José P.C.; Lordelo, Madalena M.; Prates, José A.M.
SIMPLE SUMMARY: Macroalgae have been increasingly exploited worldwide for feed, food and biofuel applications, due to their nutritive and bioactive compounds. Green seaweeds belonging to the genus Ulva have high growth rates, which makes them suitable for being cultured in sustainable algae production, such as an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture system. This is expected to increase the use of Ulva sp. as an alternative source to conventional feedstuffs (e.g., cereals and soybean meal) for poultry. The objective of the current study was to assess if the incorporation of 15% Ulva lactuca in broiler chickens’ diet, combined or not with carbohydrate-active enzymes, would enhance meat nutritional quality without compromising animal growth performance. Overall, U. lactuca led to an accumulation of antioxidant carotenoids, n-3 PUFA and macrominerals, including magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, in the breast muscle, with likely health benefits, without significantly impairing growth performance. The supplementation of macroalgae with a recombinant ulvan lyase reduced ileal viscosity with possible beneficial effects on broiler digestibility. Although dietary U. lactuca showed potential to increase meat quality, it reduced meat overall acceptability, which suggests the use of a lower algae inclusion level to prevent a negative meat sensory perception for consumers.
New Alternatives to Milk From Pulses: Chickpea and Lupin Beverages With Improved Digestibility and Potential Bioactivities for Human Health
Publication . Duarte, Carla Margarida; Mota, Joana; Assunção, Ricardo; Martins, Carla; Ribeiro, Ana Cristina; Lima, Ana; Raymundo, Anabela; Nunes, Maria Cristiana; Ferreira, Ricardo Boavida; Sousa, Isabel
There is a strong demand for plant-based milk substitutes, often low in protein content (<1.5% w/v). Protein-rich pulse seeds and the right processing technologies make it possible to make relevant choices. The major objective of this study was to assess the impact of processing on the nutritional characteristics of beverages with a high impact on health, in particular on digestibility and specific bioactivities. The results suggest that pulse beverages are as high in protein content (3.24% w/v for chickpea and 4.05% w/v for lupin) as cow's milk. The anti-nutrient level characteristics of pulses have been considerably reduced by strategic processing. However, when present in small quantities, some of these anti-nutritional factors may have health benefits. Controlling processing conditions play a crucial role in this fine balance as a tool to take advantage of their health benefits. There is evidence of protein hydrolysis by in vitro digestion and limited bioaccessibility of minerals. In addition to being highly digestible, lupin and chickpea beverages have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic potential evaluated through the inhibition of metalloproteinase MMP-9.
Interaction between T. castaneum and mycotoxin-producing fungi present in milled grains
Publication . Duarte, Sónia; Hilário, Carolina; Tomás, Joana; Alvito, Paula; Boavida, Ricardo; Magro, Ana; Carvalho, Maria Otilia
This work aims to study the interaction between two organisms when they grow
together in maize flour: Aspergillus flavus Link and Tribolium castaneum Herbst. Two strains
of A. flavus were used, one atoxigenic and the other producing aflatoxins. Trials involved a
control of only maize flour, maize flour with insects, maize flour with fungi and maize flour
with these both organisms (A. flavus and T. castaneum). The development of all these organisms
in maize flour was observed. The mycotoxigenic strain of A. flavus produced aflatoxin B1 and
B2. However, this production was significantly higher when the fungi was interacting with
insects, exceeding the limits allowed by EU in food. AFG1 and AFG2 were not found in any
of the treatments. The fungi development seemed to exert a negative effect on the insects
survival, as it caused their death, regardless of the putative chemical defenses that this insect
has towards other compting organisms, the benzoquinones. It was observed that the adults of
red flour beetle promote not only the dispersal and growth of the fungi, as well as seem to
stimulate mycotoxin production.
Enhancing meat quality of weaned piglets with the dietary incorporation of Ulva lactuca and carbohydrases supplementation
Publication . Pestana, José M.; Alfaia, Cristina M.; Ribeiro, David Miguel; Costa, Mónica M.; Carvalho, Daniela F.P.; Martins, Cátia F.; Alves, Victor M.D.; Lemos, José P.C.; Mourato, Miguel; Delgado, Inês; Gueifão, Sandra; Coelho, Inês; Almeida, André M.; Freire, João P.B.; Prates, José A.M.
The impact of the dietary incorporation of 7% Ulva lactuca, a green seaweed, on the quality and nutritional value of piglet’s meat was assessed. U. lactuca is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds but its cell wall is composed of complex polysaccharides that reduce their bioavailability. Therefore, the effect of supplementing piglet diets with exogenous carbohydrases was also assessed here. A total of 40 male weaned piglets were divided into four dietary groups, each with 10 piglets: control (wheat, maize and soybean meal-based diet), UL (7% U. lactuca replacing the control diet), UL +R (UL and 0.005% Rovabio®), and UL +E (UL and 0.01% ulvan lyase). The piglets were fed the diets for 2 weeks. The results showed that incorporating U. lactuca in piglet diets did not influence most of the meat quality traits (P >0.05). However, the incorporation of U. lactuca with the commercial carbohydrase (UL +R) increased the amount of the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) in their meat (P =0.011) compared with the control, by 54%. In addition, meat from piglets fed seaweed diets showed a nearly two-fold increase in iodine contents (P <0.001). Meat tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of piglets fed the control diet and the UL diet were lower than those fed the diets containing seaweed and carbohydrases (P <0.001). Overall, the findings indicate that 7% U. lactuca in the diets of weaned piglets had no major detrimental effects on meat quality and their carbohydrase supplementation has the potential to improve meat sensory traits.
Effect of Dietary Laminaria digitata with Carbohydrases on Broiler Production Performance and Meat Quality, Lipid Profile, and Mineral Composition
Publication . Costa, Mónica M.; Pestana, José M.; Osório, Diogo; Alfaia, Cristina M.; Martins, Cátia F.; Mourato, Miguel; Gueifão, Sandra; Rego, Andreia M.; Coelho, Inês; Coelho, Diogo; Lemos, José P.C.; Fontes, Carlos M.G.A.; Lordelo, Madalena M.; Prates, José A. M.
Simple Summary: Seaweeds represent promising alternatives to unsustainable conventional feed sources, such as cereals, incorporated in poultry diets. Brown macroalgae (e.g., Laminaria digitata) correspond to the largest cultured algal biomass worldwide and are rich in bioactive polysaccharides, minerals, and antioxidant pigments. However, their utilization as feed ingredients is limited due to the presence of an intricate gel-forming cell wall composed of indigestible carbohydrates, mainly alginate and fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides. Therefore, supplementation with carbohydrate-active enzymes is required to disrupt the cell wall and allow seaweed nutrients to be digested and absorbed in poultry gut. The present study aimed to evaluate if the dietary inclusion of 15% L. digitata, supplemented or not with carbohydrases, could improve the nutritional value of poultry meat without impairing growth performance of broiler chickens. The results show that L. digitata increases antioxidant pigments and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat, thus improving meat nutritional and health values. On the other hand, feeding algae at a high incorporation level impaired growth performance. Feed enzymatic supplementation had only residual effects, although alginate lyase decreased intestinal viscosity caused by dietary L. digitata with potential benefits for broiler digestibility.
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Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Funding Award Number
UIDB/04129/2020