HISTIDINE DIPEPTIDES AND FREE AMINO ACIDS CONTENT OF BEEF FROM CATTLE RAISED UNDER CONTRASTING FEEDING SYSTEMS AND PRE-SLAUGHTER MANAGEMENT

CHAMORRO, V.C.; PAZOS, A.A.; GODOY, M.F.; PIGHIN, D.G.; CUNZOLO, S.A.; SANCHO, A.M.; GRIGIONI, G.

Punta del Este

Congreso; 60 th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology; 2014

Diet and pre-slaughter stress are key factors that may affect the biochemical processes during the conversion of muscle into meat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different pre-slaughter stress managements (reduced-stress handling, RH and conventional handling CH) in Angus steers, raised in two contrasting feeding systems (grain, GS and pasture, PS) on histidine dipeptides content and free amino acids profile. Dipeptides and free amino acids were analysed by ion exchange chromatography. The concentration of free amino acids was not different neither among feeding systems nor among pre-slaughter stress managements. The concentration of histidine dipeptides was higher in CH than in RH for both production systems applied.  Histidine dipeptides could act as tissue protectors and as markers of acute stress in animals.