The effects of feeding flaxseed to beef cows given forage based diets on fatty acids of longissimus thoracis muscle and backfat

Meat Sci. 2011 Dec;89(4):469-77. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.05.016. Epub 2011 May 25.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate changes in fatty acid profiles of beef cows fed grass hay or barley silage based diets, with or without flaxseed supplementation. Both flaxseed and hay feeding increased levels of α-linolenic acid (LNA; 18:3n-3) in longissimus thoracis and backfat (P<0.001). A forage type by flaxseed level interaction was observed for most LNA biohydrogenation intermediates (P<0.05) that indicated feeding hay combined with flaxseed led to the greatest levels of total conjugated linolenic acid, total conjugated linoleic acid, total non-conjugated dienes and total trans-18:1. Predominant biohydrogenation intermediates included t11,c15-18:2, rumenic acid (c9,t11-18:2) and vaccenic acid (t11-18:1).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / chemistry
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Diet / veterinary*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis*
  • Flax*
  • Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / analysis
  • Meat / analysis*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry*
  • Silage / analysis
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid / analysis

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Linoleic Acids, Conjugated
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid