FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF THE TRIGLYCERIDES OF PERIRENAL AND SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE-TISSUE OF MEAT RABBITS FED OIL FROM COCONUT, RAPE OR SOYBEAN

The effect of a standard diet without oil supplement (control) or with 7 % coconut, rape or soybean oil instead of corn starch on the fatty acid composition of the triglycerides of perirenal and subcutaneous ad ipose tissue of meat rabbits was investigated. After a 53 day growth t rial 4 x 6 individually kept and ad lib.fed male New Zealand White rab bits (initial weight 600 g) were slaughtered at 12 weeks with an avera ge live weight of 2.6 kg. The fatty acid composition of the diets was reflected in the fatty acid composition of the adipose tissue lipids. Saturated fatty acids of adipose tissue such as lauric and myristic ac id increased considerably in the group fed coconut oil. Rape oil impro ved the content of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid significantly. T he content of 18:1 of perirenal adipose tissue increased from 25.7 up to 45.1 %. Linoleic acid and linolenic acid was improved from 18.2 and 6.7 % respectively to 25.9 and 9.0 % respectively. The treatment with soybean oil led to an increased linoleic acid content from 18.2 to 47 .0 %, whereas linolenic acid content was not influenced.