Influence of Finishing Diet on the Phospholipid Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Individual Phospholipids in Lean Muscle of Beef Cattle

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Abstract
Angus and Angus/Hereford steers were allotted to either confined (all grain) or grain-on-grass feeding facilities. Cattle were slaughtered at an estimated Choice quality grade and pectoralis major muscles were obtained to evaluate the influence of diet and management system on fatty acid (FA) composition of lean. The FA composition of the neutral and polar lipids was evaluated. The polar lipids were separated into individual phospholipids and their FA profiles were examined. Muscle from the grain-on-grass cattle had greater quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the neutral and polar lipids. Neutral lipids were higher in the fatty acids C18:2 and C18:3, whereas the polar lipids were higher in fatty acids C18:2, C18:3, C20:3, C20:4 and C22:5. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine + lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine were the most prevalent phospholipids. Each of these phospholipids had increased levels of C18:2, C18:3, C20:3, C20:4 and C22:5 in muscle from steers on the grain-on-grass treatment. This study confirms that diet can influence me PUFA composition of polar lipids in general and specifically of those phospholipids that previously have been associated with off-flavor and aftertaste in beef.