The effects of grass-based versus grain-based feeding of ruminants on the human hygienic status, a review
2019
Al-Thuwaini, Tahreer M. | Al-Shuhaib, Mohammed Baqur S.
Ruminant meat quality is one of the important factors contributing to the recent spreading of several diseases, such as obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular problems, which have increased predominately. Feeding regiment plays an important role in the determination of the composition of fatty acids and meat quality in ruminants. This review aims to highlight the main factors that lie behind the variability of ruminant meat quality and its effect on human being's health. The reduction in grass-feeding decreases saliva levels in the ruminants, which has several consequences on the rumen, including a reduction in pH level, along with a reduction in the microorganism activities and conjugated linoleic acid levels. In adipose tissues, the expression of the stearoyl-CoA desaturases gene is negatively affected by the decreased conjugated linoleic acid levels in the rumen, which leads to a decreased transformation of saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, the lower monounsaturated fatty acids and the parallel increase in the proportion of saturated fatty acids in the consumed meat can be associated with some human diseases. Thus, the present study provided a molecular explanation for the superiority of grass-based feeding in ruminants raised at pasture in term of production of meat with a healthier quality for consumers than those raised on grains.
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