Short communication: mineral profiles of veal and beef meat as affected by farming system and breed combination

The mineral profile of meat is important for human nutrition, but little is known of the effects on it of type of bovine meat (veal vs beef), farming system, and the breed or breed combination of calves. The longissimus thoracis of 104 carcases of intensively fattened veal calves (4 breed combinations), 115 intensively fed young beef bulls (6 breed combinations), and 12 young bulls from dairy farms were sampled for mineral profiling covering: 6 essential macro-minerals (Na, Mg, P, S, K and Ca), 5 essential micro-minerals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) and 5 environmental micro-minerals (B, Al, Ni, Sr and Si). Veal and beef meat were found to differ in the contents of all the minerals, except P, Mn and Ni; beef was not greatly affected by farming system. The mineral profile was negligibly affected by the breed combination in beef × dairy crossbred veal calves and young bulls, but there were larger differences in the mineral profiles of young bulls obtained from suckler cows compared with those obtained from dairy cows.HIGHLIGHTS Veal and beef meat from beef × dairy crossbreeds differ in their contents of almost all macro- (except P) and micro-minerals (except Mn and Ni). Farming system does not affect the mineral profile of beef fattened intensively by specialised fatteners or extensively by dairy farmers. The breed combination in beef × dairy crossbreds has a negligible effect on the mineral profile of veal and beef meat.