OPPORTUNITIES TO PRODUCE HEALTHIER BEEF

Abstract

In this study the opportunities for enhancing the beneficial fatty acid in beef was
examined. The effect of diet (extensive vs. intensive diet, forage to concentrate ratio,
feeding concentrates rich in n-3 fatty acids) and the breed (old: Hungarian Grey,
dual purpose: Hungarian Simmental, dairy: Hungarian Holstein-Friesian) was
investigated on the fatty acid composition of beef. Findings reveal that the extensive
diet with linseed supplemented concentrate influenced the n-6/n-3 ratio and the CLA
content of longissimus muscle more advantageous concerning human nutrition. The
meat from Hungarian Grey (HG) contained more CLA and less n-6 fatty acids than
that of Holstein-Friesian bulls. The different forage to concentrate ratio with/without
linseed supplementation did not significantly affect the performance and slaughter
traits in Hungarian Simmental (HS) young bulls. The wider forage to linseed
concentrate ratio caused slightly higher dressing percentage, meat and fat
proportion and lower bone in carcass. The effect of muscle type on chemical
composition of muscles is more significant than that of the diet. SFA and MUFA
were affected by muscle type, n-3 fatty acids and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio of the diet.
The level of cis-9 trans-11 CLA (mg/100 g) was influenced by muscle type, but not
by diet.