Bioaccessibility of Se, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe, and heme iron content in unaged and aged meat of Hereford and Braford steers fed pasture
The content and the bioaccessibility of Se, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe were determined in unaged and aged meat (14days) from the Psoas major (PM), Gluteus medius (GM) and Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of Hereford (H) and Braford breed (B) steers fed pasture. Furthermore, the content of heme-Fe was determined in the same muscles. The H had a lower content of Cu and a higher content of Fe. Also, H had more heme-Fe than B. The bioaccessibility in unaged meat for Se, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe ranged between 75 and 91%, 30 and 45%, 40 and 68%, 55 and 95%, and 60 and 70%, respectively. After aging, the bioaccessibility for the same minerals ranged between 58 and 80%, 30 and 48%, 40 and 58%, 75 and 95%, and 59 and 70%, respectively. Aging affected negatively the Se content and its bioaccessibility, in the two breeds. Also, the heme-Fe content was negatively affected by aging in all muscles and breeds.