Abstract

RESENDIZ GONZALEZ, Guillermo et al. Nutritional composition of equine meat and degree of substitution of bovine for equine meat in stores in Mexico City. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2021, vol.12, n.3, pp.742-755.  Epub Mar 14, 2022. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v12i3.5462.

The degree of substitution of bovine meat for equine meat in different points of sale of the different boroughs of Mexico City was evaluated, and the benefits or similarities with bovine meat as a strong alternative of nutrients were identified. One hundred sixty-one samples of bovine meat were collected, which were subjected to near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR’s - Food Scan) to determine nutritional composition (moisture content, protein, fat and collagen), meat color (Hunter Lab L*, a* and b*) and polymorphism of repeated sequences to characterize the bovine or equine origin by polymerase chain reaction in agarose gels (PCR). The variables of nutritional composition and meat color were analyzed in a completely randomized design. It was found that nine of the samples were positive for equine meat and 152 samples were positive for bovine meat; resulting in that 5.59 % of bovine meat was replaced by equine meat in the commercialization centers in Mexico City. Likewise, the moisture, protein, fat and collagen content fluctuated between the samples from 73.1 to 75.1 %, from 22.0 to 23.5 %, from 2.0 to 2.3 %, and from 1.3 to 1.4 mg g-1, respectively; observing a slight increase (P<0.05) in the concentration of moisture and protein in bovine meat compared to equine meat. The L* (luminosity) of meat between animal species was different (P<0.05); while in the indicators of meat color a* (from red to green) and b* (from yellow to blue), it fluctuated from 29.80 to 37.50 and 15.00 to 16.20 (P>0.05). It is concluded that the percentage of substitution of bovine meat for equine meat (5.59 %) is considered low and constitutes consumer fraud. However, equine meat has the potential to be a viable alternative for human consumption, as the nutritional composition was similar to bovine meat.

Keywords : Meat; Bovine; Equine; PCR; Substitution.