We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Gender status effects on beef fatty acid profile of Angus × Nellore cattle.
- Authors
Mueller, L. F.; Balieiro, J. C. D. C.; Ferrinho, A. M.; Furlan, J. D. J. M.; Furlan, M. L. N.; Zanata, M.; Amorin, T. R.; Fuzikawa, I. H. S.; Martins, T. S.; Baldi, F.; Pereira, A. S. C.
- Abstract
Beef fatty acid profile can be modified by the sex of the animals. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender status on beef fatty acid profile of feedlot Angus × Nellore cattle. A total of 176 cattle, 20 wk of age, from the Brazilian Certified Angus Beef Program were assigned to 4 sex classes: 32 bulls, 48 steers, 48 immunocastrates, and 48 heifers, presenting initial mean weights of 251.4 ± 3.62 kg for bulls, 266.6 ± 2.95 kg for immunocastrates, 226.4 ± 2.95 kg for steers, and 255.4 ± 2.95 kg for heifers. Cattle were fed during 190 d an ad libitum high-grain diet containing 80% concentrate. At the end of the experimental period, cattle were slaughtered. Steaks were collected from the LM and stored at -80°C pending analysis for fatty acid profile. Beef fatty acid was extracted and then the methyl esters were formed. Fatty acids were quantified using a gas chromatography. Statistical analyzes were performed using PROC MIXED of SAS, including the fixed effect of gender status and the random effect of cattle within gender groups. The gender status had no effect on the total SFA, but significant differences were observed for MUFA, PUFA, CLA, n-6, the n-6:n-3 ratio, and the PUFA: SFA ratio (P < 0.05). Beef from heifers had greater levels of MUFA (45.77%; P < 0.01) and CLA (0.42%; P = 0.0006) when compared with bulls (41.56 and 0.30%, respectively), steers (44.21 and 0.30%, respectively), and immunocastrates (43.95 and 0.36%, respectively). The highest levels of MUFA in the heifers' beef was mainly related to the higher levels of the major single fatty acids in this group, namely C18:1 n-9 (35.65%; P < 0.01) and C16:1 n-9 (2.94%; P < 0.01). On the other hand, the levels of PUFA and n-6 and the PUFA:SFA and n-6:n-3 ratios were greater (P < 0.01) in beef from bulls (9.76, 8.36, 0.22, and 4.83%, respectively) compared with the other gender statuses. In conclusion, beef from heifers can be considered healthier to humans because it presented lower levels of n-6 and myristic acid and higher levels of CLA, MUFA, and oleic acid.
- Subjects
FATTY acid content of beef; GENDER; BEEF cattle
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2017, Vol 95, p181
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Abstract
- DOI
10.2527/asasann.2017.366