Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 43 (2003) 331-345
DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2003029

Effect of diets rich in N-3 polyunsatured fatty acids on muscle lipids and fatty acids in Belgian Blue double-muscled young bulls

Katleen Raes, Stefaan De Smet, An Balcaen, Erik Claeys and Daniel Demeyer

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Proefhoevestraat 10, 9090 Melle, Belgium
(Received 24 September 2002; accepted 24 June 2003)

Abstract
The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of duration and time of feeding n-3 fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and adipose tissue of bulls at slaughter. Four groups of bulls were given during three periods different diets, mainly differing in the presence of linseed as the predominant n-3 fatty acid source in the concentrate either or not in combination with grass (silage) as the roughage. The results show that the fatty acid composition of the feed during the earlier periods of life of the animal were important and influenced the final intramuscular fatty acid composition. Feeding n-3 PUFA during the phases before the finishing diet increased the long chain n-3 PUFA (C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3) compared to animals which were fed only a C18:3n-3 rich concentrate in the finishing period. The cis-9,trans-11CLA content was increased by feeding linseed in the fattening period and was mainly deposited in the triacylglycerol fraction of the intramuscular fat.

Key words: fatty acids / n-3 PUFA / conjugated linoleic acid / beef / Belgian Blue bulls

Correspondence and reprints: Stefaan De Smet stefaan.desmet@UGent.be

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2003