The Application Of Stable Isotope Analysis Of Cattle Tail Hair In Beef Traceability

Based on the application of stable isotopes in food traceability, and the feasibility ofcattle tail hair in tracing beef origin, the study aimed to collect tail hair samples in large-scaleareas, discuss its feasibility for establishing beef traceability database or drawing map for beeforigin, determine the traceability range, and then initially establish the traceability databasefor beef origin using tail hair.（1）167tail hair samples and236feed samples were collected from four beef productionregions （Inner Mongolia, North China and Central Plains, Loess Plateau, Northeast Plain）.The δ¹³C,δ¹⁵N and δ²H values of those samples were analysed, respectively, combined withthe climate, geographic feature （longitude,Latitude,altitude） and feeding pattern in thosesampling regions.It focus on discussing the variation trend of discriminated effect using tailhair when the area and distance of the compared regions were gradually decreased, and aimedto determine the effective range between beef production regions,which is very important forbeef traceability. The result showed that δ¹³C values of tail hair were closely correlated withthe feed types of cattle, namely C3and C4plants; δ15N values were related to feeding pattern,namely pasturing regions and agriculture regions; δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in tail hair had no obviousregulations with the variation of traceability range, and they could be used to distinguishsamples between counties or towns with different feeds or feeding pattern. δ²H values tendedto be be reduced with the rising of longitude and latitude, and it could be used to distinguishsamples from different beef production regions.（2） Discriminative model of cattle tail hair between different regions were establishedbased on its final traceability range and effect. The ArcGIS software was applied to draw δ13C,δ¹⁵N and δ²H variation trend map of tail hair along with areas within the four beef productionregions （tail hair traceability map）. The correlation between beef and tail hair, the feasibilityand availability of tail hair for beef traceability have been confirmed further by beef cattlefeeding model test. Tail hair traceability database was transformed into beef traceabilitydatabase using the models established previously, which was used to draw beef traceabilitymap. The tail hair traceability map and beef traceability map were compared with each other.The result showed that δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ²H values in tail hair could be reflected effectively by electronic traceability map. The variation trend of beef traceability map transformed from tailhair data was consistent with the tail hair map. It means cattle tail hair can be used as thematerial for tracing beef, and to establish the beef traceability database.