嘉吉公司

The objective of this study was to evaluate rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) as a rapid method to measure biochemical markers of beef tenderness. Over a 3-year period, steak samples were collected from beef carcasses (Canada AA, n = 1505; Canada AAA, n = 1363) and aged 14 d. Metabolomic profiling of beef samples was performed using REIMS (N = 2853). A subset of samples (n = 600) was selected to evaluate sarcomere length, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), desmin degradation, troponin-T degradation, and collagen content. A stepwise regression model was constructed to examine the relationships between sarcomere length, MFI, intact and degraded desmin, intact and degraded troponin-T, total, soluble, and insoluble collagen, and spectra generated from REIMS. Selected REIMS bins accounted for 64.4% of the variation in predicted sarcomere length (R2 = 0.644, P < 0.001), 31.6% in predicted MFI (R2 = 0.316, P < 0.001), 58.3% in predicted intact desmin (R2 = 0.583, P < 0.001), 54.2% in predicted degraded desmin (R2 = 0.542, P < 0.001), 12.8% in predicted intact troponin-T (R2 = 0.128, P < 0.001), 8.4% in predicted degraded troponin-T (R2 = 0.084, P < 0.001), 23.7% in predicted total collagen (R2 = 0.237, P < 0.001), 25.2% in predicted soluble collagen (R2 = 0.252, P < 0.001), and 23.5% in predicted insoluble collagen (R2 = 0.235, P < 0.001). These results support the conclusion that REIMS metabolomic profiling is responsive to key biochemical features known to influence beef tenderness.

Recent innovations in poultry feed technology have emphasized the role of postbiotics and phytogenics as promising strategies to strengthen gut health and improve overall performance in broilers. Within this context, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of Biostrong™ Dual (Cargill Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA, USA), a novel product that integrates Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotic products (SCFPs) with a proprietary blend of essential oil compounds (EOCs). The objective was to determine whether this dual formulation could consistently enhance growth, feed efficiency, and carcass quality across multiple production phases. To test this, three independent trials were conducted using commercial broiler strains. Birds were allocated to either a control group (CON) receiving a basal diet or a treatment group (DUAL) receiving the same diet supplemented with 0.4 kg/MT of Biostrong™ Dual. Each trial employed a randomized block design with 24 replicates per treatment and 16-25 birds per replicate. Results consistently demonstrated that DUAL improved (p < 0.05) body weight and the cumulative feed conversion ratio (cFCR) at 42 days. Pooled analysis revealed body weight gains of 5.5%, a cFCR improvement of 5 points, increased feed intake, and a 0.86% rise in breast meat yield. Additionally, one trial showed reduced footpad lesion scores. Collectively, these findings highlight Biostrong™ Dual as a valuable nutritional intervention to optimize productivity and carcass quality in poultry production and further research is needed to understand the mode of action of the product.

Brown seaweeds such as sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) are rich in bioactive compounds with potential health benefits for fish. This study evaluated the effects of dietary fermented sugar kelp (FSK) on mid-intestinal histology, antioxidant biomarkers, and immune response in post-smolts Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). A total of 975 fish (204 ± 37 g) were allocated across 15 tanks and fed one of five isonitrogenous (≈45% crude protein) diets containing 0-4% FSK for 10 weeks. Plasma, liver, muscle, and mid-intestine samples were analyzed for histological and biochemical parameters at the end of the trial. FSK inclusion up to 4% had no adverse effects on mid-intestinal morphology or signs of inflammation. Liver antioxidant capacity was modulated, with significantly higher glutathione (GSH) concentrations and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in FSK 4%-fed groups compared to the control. However, no changes were observed in muscle or intestinal antioxidant levels. Immune-related parameters were also modulated: plasma lysozyme activity doubled at 1% and 3% FSK, and plasma bactericidal activity more than doubled at 3% FSK compared to the control group. Antiprotease activity increased dose-dependently, although plasma peroxidase activity and IgM levels declined slightly. Overall, dietary FSK up to 4% does not alter mid-intestine morphology or induce inflammation. Additionally, it shows potential functional effects in fish, including the modulation of hepatic antioxidant capacity and innate-immune mechanisms, particularly antibacterial effects. These findings support further investigation into the functional use of seaweed-derived ingredients in aquafeeds. The study design and main findings are provided in a graphical abstract.

A fiber optics-based Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) sensor was investigated for sensitive and rapid detection and differentiation of live from dead Salmonella cells in turkey rinse. The sensor integrates uniform nanoantenna arrays onto a side-polished multimode optical fiber core. A custom 3D-printed jigs with tilted cylindrical ports improve scattered light reflection, while a built-in groove allows manual fiber polishing. The sensor is housed in a 3D-printed chamber capable of holding several milliliters of sample to support rapid detection by acquiring a Raman spectra. Microsphere Photolithography was used to pattern the nanoantenna arrays. In this technique, silica microspheres self-assemble into a hexagonal close-packed arrangement on a thin photoresist layer coated over the fiber core. The microspheres act as optical lenses, concentrating UV light into photonic jets that locally expose the photoresist. After development, this process generates nanohole arrays. Subsequent chromium/gold sputter-deposition and lift-off processes transfer the pattern to the fiber surface. The disk diameters are controlled by the UV exposure dose. The sensor demonstrated detection of Salmonella Typhimurium and Enteritidis in turkey rinsate with a concentration as low as 10 CFU/ml in 10 minutes. The device also distinguished live from dead Salmonella treated with peracetic acid (PAA) with 10-100 ppm concentrations for 10 minutes or heat at 95 degrees C for 30 minutes.

Siamenoside I, a cucurbitane glycoside 300 times sweeter than sucrose, is found in monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii). The triterpene glycosides in monk fruit, such as mogroside V, siamenoside I, and mogroside III, comprise around 1% of the fruit flesh. These mogrosides share a core structure, mogrol, with varying numbers of glucose units attached to carbon-3 of the cucurbitane backbone and/or carbon-24 of the triterpene side chain. Previous in vitro fecal homogenate metabolism and in vivo pharmacokinetic research indicated that mogrosides are deglycosylated to a common metabolite, the aglycone mogrol, by intestinal flora prior to absorption. This study was conducted using a purified siamenoside I produced via fermentation and a monk fruit extract in an in vitro human fecal homogenate system to confirm the deglycosylation of siamenoside I by intestinal microflora to the common metabolic intermediate, mogrol. The rates of deglycosylation of siamenoside I and monk fruit extract showed essentially complete metabolism to mogrol within 8 h at 0.2 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL for siamenoside I, and 8 h at 0.2 mg/mL and 16 h at 2 mg/mL for monk fruit extract, in both male and female pooled fecal homogenates with no apparent sex differences. Overall, no difference was observed in the deglycosylation rates of purified siamenoside I or siamenoside I present in monk fruit extract to the mogrol metabolite further confirming the deglycosylation of mogrosides in the lower gastrointestinal tract.