Determination of fattening performance, carcase characteristics and carcase quality in Anatolian buffalo raised in intensive fattening and pasture conditions

In this study, it was aimed to determine the fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics, meat quality and fatty acid composition of Anatolian buffaloes under different fattening conditions. The animal material of the study consisted of 18 male Anatolian buffaloes divided into two groups as intensive (fattening group, n=9) and extensive (pasture group, n=9) under different fattening conditions. In this 5-month study, the fattening group was fed with intensive feed and an average live weight gain of 1.050 g was obtained at the end of the fattening period. It was determined that the live weight gain of the buffaloes in extensive conditions was 0.23 g at the end of 5 months. The weight at the beginning of fattening, 177.6 and 169.3 kg; weight at the end of fattening, 327.5 and 204 kg; hot carcass weight, 159.6±23.44 and 78.96±10.8; cold carcass weight, 157.4±22.83 and 77.63±11.43 kg were determined for fattening and pasture groups, respectively. In order to determine the meat quality, pH24, L*24, a*24, b*24, C*, Hº colour values, water holding capacity (%), cooking loss (%) and texture values of the samples taken from longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were determined as 5. 63±0.193, 39.03±1.81, 9.4±0.93, 11.99±0.80, 15.25±1.08, 51.96±2.15, 0.36±0.16, 32.65±1.78 and 6.10±2.66, respectively. The nutrient contents of LD muscle were determined as 5.85±0.17, 35.43±3.76, 10.01±2.41, 10.19±0.28, 14.34±1.82, 46.05±6.47, 0.17±0.08, 30.27±6.68 and 8.10±2. In the study, the nutrient contents of LD muscle were found to be 76.47±1.23%, 23.53±0.78%, 22.77±1.07%, 4.77±0.96% and 4.07±0.14% for moisture, dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash, respectively. The nutrient contents of LD muscle were 78.34±1.30%, 21.66±1.03%, 21.22±0.89%, 2.46±1.28% and 4.17±0.11% for the pasture group and the differences between the fattening and pasture groups were found to be significant (P<0.01). The mineral contents (mg/100g) of LD muscle were as follows; Calcium (Ca) 33.83±12.31 and 37.99±34.36, Copper (Cu) 2.15±0.53 and 1.69±0.84, Iron (Fe) 4.82±2.12 and 2.23±0.65, Potassium (K) 303.2±79.99 and 294.8±52.98, Magnesium (Mg) 29. 73±10.01 and 27.82±7.39, Sodium (Na) 171.3±60.58 and 157±20.13, Zinc (Zn) 5.55±3.21 and 4.36±0.78 and Manganese (Mn) 0.45±0.13 and 0.38±0.44 were found to be insignificant (P<0.05). The saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and Omega 6/Omega 3 (n-6/n-3) fat ratios of LD muscle were 73.520±30.421 and 64.243±2.568, 42.313±15.301 and 30.445±4.673, 2.135±0.644 and 2.053±0.362 and 71.71 and 2.92 for fattening and pasture groups, respectively. Saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6/n-3 fat ratios of adrenal fat were 69.931±4.690 and 68.992±2.377, 26.826±4.621 and 25.703±4.304,1.540±0.235 and 1.415±0.213 and 7.20 and 2.72 for fattening and pasture groups, respectively.