Authentication of grazing and feedlot yak husbandry patterns using triple quadrupole ICP-MS mineral analysis and chemometrics

To establish an accurate and efficient method for identifying the feeding modes of yaks from their meat with molecular tools, this study aims to compare grazing and feedlot yak meat as well as to identify markers of meat authentication. Triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to determine the contents of mineral elements, and chemometric methods were combined to screen specific biomarkers. Additionally, linear regression analysis was used to verify the correlation between these markers in the meat and in the feeds. The results showed that there were significant differences in the mineral composition of yak meat under the two feeding modes, and a total of 12 specific elements with discriminative value were screened out. Both the partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) models constructed based on these markers achieved 100% accurate discrimination between the two feeding regimes. Linear regression analysis confirmed that the core markers were significantly correlated with the contents of corresponding elements in the feeds, indicating that feed is a key influencing factor. This study demonstrated that mineral elements can serve as effective discriminative indicators, and the proposed technical method provides important support for the authenticity traceability of yak meat. • The mineral elements variances of yak meat from two feeding patterns were compared. • The correlations of yak meat with its feed were fully discussed. • PLS-DA and LDA modeling verified the feeding pattern of yak meat with 100% accuracy. • This strategy may be a feasible tool for combating the mislabeling of yak meat.