Beef Cattle Healthfulness Value
Beef is a highly nutritious and valued food. It is a rich source of protein and micronutrients (vitamins A, B6, B12, D, and E, iron, zinc, selenium, and more). Although beef is perceived as having high-fat content with undesirable composition, i.e., a high percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA), there are many nutrients in beef that have a positive effect on human health: monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, magnesium.
While beef is already a good source of nutrients, the potential to further enhance its nutritional and health value is enormous. It is our contention that U.S. consumers will become increasingly supportive of food sources that they believe help them live a healthier life.
Ongoing research is focusing on characterizing the nutritional and health value of beef from Bos Indicus influenced cattle. The goals are to determine the extent to which phenotypic variation is controlled by genetics and to develop genomic tools that will allow the identification of genetically superior animals with respect to these traits and use this information for selection, management, and marketing.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
- Article published in FL Cattlemen Magazine, November 2018
- Eduardo Rodriquez and R.G. Mateescu.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Fatty acid profile, mineral content, and palatability of beef from a multibreed Angus Brahman population
- Article published in "Journal of Animal Science", October 2018
- Sarah Flowers, Heather Hamblen, Joel D. Leal, M.A. Elzo, D.D. Johnson and R.G. Mateescu.
- J. Anim. Sci. 96(10):4264-4275
The "steaks" are high to produce healthier foods and Bos Indicus cattle may have the advantage!
- Article published in The Brahman Journal, November 2018
- Sarah Flowers, Heather Hamblen and R.G. Mateescu.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Beef nutritional content…how important is it for consumers to have the correct information?
- Article published in FL Cattlemen Magazine, April 2018
- Sarah Flowers, B.R. McFadden, C. Carr and R.G. Mateescu.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
The "steaks" are high to produce healthier foods and Bos Indicus cattle may have the advantage!
- Article published in Beefmaster Magazine, February 2018
- Sarah Flowers, Heather Hamblen and R.G. Mateescu.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Fatty Acid Composition and Mineral Content Variation in Florida Crossbred Cattle.
- Article published in the UF ANS Beef Research Report, 2017
- Flowers S., H. Hamblen and R.G. Mateescu.
- EDIS, UF/IFAS.
The "steaks" are high to produce healthier foods and Bos Indicus cattle may have the advantage!
- Article published in FL Cattlemen Magazine, February 2018
- Sarah Flowers, Heather Hamblen and R.G. Mateescu.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Is beef from Bos Indicus influenced cattle healthier for you? – Research at UF says it might be…
- Article published in FL Cattlemen Magazine, May 2017
- Heather Hamblen & Raluca Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Deriving gene networks for fatty acid composition in beef cattle
- Article published in "Frontiers in Genetics", June 2016
- Justin Buchanan (former PhD student with Dr. Mateescu)
A primer on fat and human health
- Article published in FL Cattlemen Magazine, December 2016
- Raluca Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida
Genetic parameters and genetic correlations among triacylglycerol and phospholipid fractions in Angus cattle
- Article published in the Journal of Animal Science, 2015
- Justin Buchanan (PhD student with Dr. Mateescu)
IT IS possible to genetically change the nutrient profile of beef
- Invited Presentation, June 2014
- 46th Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium
- Lincoln Nebraska
Genome-wide association study of concentrations of iron and other minerals in longissimus muscle of Angus cattle
- Article published in the Journal of Animal Science, 2013
Genetic parameters for concentration of minerals in longissimus muscle and their association with palatability traits in Angus cattle.
- Article published in the Journal of Animal Science, 2013