Effect of linseed feeding at similar linoleic acid levels on the fatty acid composition of double-muscled Belgian Blue young bulls

The effect of including linseed [extruded (EL) or crushed (CL)] instead of whole soybeans (S) in the finishing diet of double-muscled Belgian Blue young bulls on the fatty acid composition of the longissimus thoracis, triceps brachii and subcutaneous fat was investigated. The dietary supply of C18:2n-6 was similar in the three diets, while in the EL and CL diet the supply of C18:3n-3 was equal. No effects of diet on the saturated, monounsaturated and branched chain fatty acids were found. Including linseed in place of whole soybeans increased the total intramuscular n-3 fatty acid content significantly, mainly as C18:3n-3, while no significant effect on the total and individual n-6 fatty acid incorporation was observed in the intramuscular fat. As a consequence of the higher n-3 content, the n-6/n-3 ratio was decreased by linseed feeding. In contrast with the intramuscular fat, the subcutaneous fat showed a significantly increased C18:3n-3 proportion accompanied by a significantly decreased C18:2n-6 proportion when linseed was fed. Diet did not influence the c9t11CLA content in the intramuscular or the subcutaneous fat.