Concentrations of Toxic and Nutritional Essential Elements in Meat from Different Beef Breeds Reared under Intensive Production Systems

Concentrations of major nutritional and trace elements (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Co, Cr, Ni, Sr, and Ba), as well as toxic heavy metals (Cd and Pb), were analyzed in the longissimus muscle of Charolais, Hereford, and Simmental bulls. The elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The study showed that the breeds differed in the concentrations of K, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn in meat. Meat from Charolais bulls had a significantly higher K (P < 0.01) content and significantly lower Cu, Zn (P < 0.001), and Mn (P < 0.05) contents compared to Hereford and Simmental meats. Meat from Charolais bulls also had a significantly lower Fe (P < 0.05) content in comparison with Hereford meat and a significantly lower Mg (P < 0.05) content compared to Simmental meat. Moreover, meat from Hereford bulls was characterized by a significantly higher Fe (P < 0.05) content and a lower Mg (P < 0.01) content than that from Simmental bulls. The Se and Fe contents in meat from bulls of breeds used in this study were lower than those previously reported. No breed differences were found in Pb and Cd contents. However, the Pb concentration in meat was higher than the recommended standards. In meat from bulls of all breeds, significantly strong positive correlations were observed between the contents of Pb and Ni, Cd and Ni, K and P, as well as Mg and P. Correlations between other elements within each of the breeds separately were also found.