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Grant support

The present study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain and the European Union Regional Development Funds (INIA RTA2017-008-00) and the by the Research Group Funds of the Aragon Government (A14_17R; A14_20R). The contract of M. Blanco and the doctoral grant of P.J. Rufino-Moya were funded by INIA-European Social Funds.

Analysis of institutional authors

Joy M.AuthorLobón S.AuthorBertolín J.r.AuthorBlanco M.Corresponding Author

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November 23, 2020
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Carotenoids and Liposoluble Vitamins in the Plasma and Tissues of Light Lambs Given Different Maternal Feedings and Fattening Concentrates

Publicated to:Animals. 10 (10): 1-17 - 2020-10-01 10(10), DOI: 10.3390/ani10101813

Authors: Rufino-Moya, Pablo Jose; Joy, Margalida; Lobon, Sandra; Bertolin, Juan Ramon; Blanco, Mireia

Affiliations

Ctr Invest & Tecnol Agroalimentaria Aragon CITA, Avda Montanana 930, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Grupo de investigación INPASS: Investigación en Producción Agroganadera Sostenible y Saludable. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Inst Agroalimentario Aragon IA2, CITA, Zaragoza 50013, Spain - Author

Abstract

Simple Summary Meat of lambs that grazed with their dams during lactation on sainfoin had longer shelf-life than that of lambs whose dams grazed on alfalfa or received straw and concentrates (intensive). This effect could be partially ascribed to a different deposition of carotenoids and tocopherols in the muscle, that could be in turn affected by condensed tannins, secondary compounds of plants with antioxidant activity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate: (1) the effect of maternal feeding (sainfoin, alfalfa, intensive) on the presence of carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins in the plasma and tissues of light lambs after a finishing period on concentrates with or without quebracho (as source of condensed tannins); and (2) the authentication of the maternal feeding using the carotenoids and tocopherols in plasma and tissues. Grazing on alfalfa and sainfoin during suckling affected the concentrations in plasma at weaning, and some of the contents in the tissues even after the concentrate feeding period. Unexpectedly, the inclusion of quebracho in the concentrate decreased the alpha- and gamma-tocopherol content in the lamb tissues. The use of carotenoids and tocopherols has to be combined with other analytes to authenticate the feeding system during the suckling period after a finishing period. The carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins in the plasma and tissues of the lambs under different maternal feedings and fattening concentrates was studied. During lactation, 21 lambs were housed with their dams, that received a total mixed ration (intensive); 21 ewe-lamb pairs grazed on alfalfa; and 21 pairs grazed on sainfoin. After weaning, half of the lambs in each maternal feeding group received a commercial concentrate (control) and the other half a concentrate with quebracho (Schinopsis balansae), as a source of condensed tannins, until they were slaughtered (23 kg). The analyte concentrations in the plasma of lambs at weaning reflected the content in the feedstuffs. Grazing during suckling more than doubled the contents of lutein in the liver and retinol in the tissues compared to the intensive feeding. The content of alpha-tocopherol in the tissues was greatest in sainfoin lambs, intermediate in alfalfa lambs, and lowest in the intensive lambs. The quebracho concentrate decreased alpha-tocopherol (by 41-81%) and gamma-tocopherol (by 65-89%) contents in the lamb tissues. The use of the analytes in the plasma at weaning correctly classified 100% of the lambs into the maternal feeding (intensive vs. grazing (alfalfa + sainfoin)) but has to be improved in the carcass and tissues separately.

Keywords

?-tocopherolalfalfaauthenticationfatliverluteinmuscleretinolsainfoin&#945&#947-tocopherol?-tocopherol??tocopherolAbomasumAcetonitrileAlfalfaAlpha tocopherolAlpha-tocopherolAnimal experimentAnimal modelAntioxidant capacityArticleAscorbic acidAuthenticationBeef-cattleBeta caroteneBeta-caroteneCalcium carbonateCarotenoidCondensed tanninsCottonseed mealDichloromethaneDietDiet supplementationDietary intakeE supplementationEpicatechinFatFatty-acid profileFood intakeGamma tocopherolGrainGrazing sheepLactating ewesLactationLambLipid oxidationLiverLuteinMaizeMethanolMolassesMuscleNonhumanPetroleum etherPolyphenolPolytetrafluoroethylenePotassium hydroxideRapeseed mealRetinolRuminantSainfoinSoybean mealTanninTannin derivativeTocopherolVitaminXanthophyllΑ-tocopherolΓ-tocopherol

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Animals due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 19/146, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Veterinary Sciences.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.04. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 2.25 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 4.95 (source consulted: Dimensions Sep 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-09-18, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 23
  • Scopus: 23
  • Europe PMC: 8

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-09-18:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 23 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

    • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
    • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/10532/5129

    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Rufino-Moya, Pablo Jose) and Last Author (Blanco Alibes, Mireia).

    the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Blanco Alibes, Mireia.