N-3 fatty acid content in beef

The fatty composition of adipose tissue and intramuscular fat can be change d by different factors like diet, breed, sex, growth, hormones, species, an d fatness. The influence of growth, breed and feeding on the fatty acid com position of ruminant muscle fat was investigated. There were significant di fferences in quantitative and qualitative fat deposition which were genetic ally caused. Muscle of Galloway and White-blue Belgian bulls contained a hi gh n-3 fatty acid content which is positive for human nutrition. The fatty acid composition of concentrate (grain-based) and grass (keeping on pasture ) diets are quite different and lead to different compositions in muscle of steers. The exogenous intake of alpha-linolenic acid via grass increased t he concentration of n-3 fatty acids in beef.