<b>Diets and genetic groups effects on the muscle composition and fatty acid profiles of heifers fattened in feedlot</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascitechnol.v25i1.2245

Abstract

This experiment evaluated the effects of four experimental diets on muscle composition and fatty acid profiles, using muscle samples of 28 Longissimus dorsi heifers. The diets evaluated were: i) corn and soybean meal (Corn); ii) cassava hulls and soybean meal (Chu); iii) cassava meal and soybean meal (Cme); iv) cassava root and soybean meal (Cro). The moisture, ash, proteins and fat muscle contents ranged from 73.95% to 76.26%, 0.97% to 1.10%, 21.37% to 23.90% and 0.75% to 1.28%, respectively. Most of the fatty acids were monounsaturated and ranged from 49.02% to 53.59%. The saturated fatty acids ranged from 42.42% to 45.34%. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were the smallest amounts, with levels between 3.18% and 4.02%. The n6/n3 ratio ranged from 7.18 to 10.17. Cassava has low price in Brazil, when compared to corn; therefore, we suggest to the producers that the use of cassava and its industrial residues in bovine's diet may represent significant savings.