EFFECTS OF DIET, DEGREE OF FATNESS, AND SEX UPON FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF CATTLE TISSUES

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Abstract
A hay ration compared with an all-grain ration resulted in higher percentages of palmitic and stearic acids and lower percentages of oleic acid in carcass tissues. Rumen contents of hay-fed animals contained substantially higher levels of myristic acid and lower concentrations of palmitic and stearic acids. The acetate to propionate ratios in rumen fluids were 4.4 and 1.2 respectively for the hay and grain rations.In steers fed the same diet but at different levels, greater consumption resulted in slightly higher levels of oleic and lower levels of stearic acid in carcass tissues.Carcasses from heifers were fatter than those from bulls (16.2% more separable fat in the 9th to 11th rib section) and in most tissues contained slightly higher levels of palmitic and lower levels of stearic and oleic acids.Internal tissues (perirenal and external heart fat) contained more stearic and less oleic acid than external tissues. Differences between external tissues were observed: higher percentages of stearic and lower percentages of oleic and palmitoleic acids were found in external rib than in external brisket fat.