Influence of Breed, Slaughter Weight and Gender on Chemical Composition of Beef. Part 2. Fatty Acid Composition of Fat in Rib Samples

Abstract

The effect of slaughter weight and gender on fatty acid composition of homogenised rib samples of Hungarian Simmental (HS) and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cattle breeds was investigated. In the first experiment 22 Hungarian Simmental and 18 Holstein-Friesian cattle's meat, in the second experiment 15 females and 12 males Holstein-Friesian cattle's meat was analysed on fatty acid content. Saturated and mono- or polyunsaturated fatty acid profile did not seem to vary either by breed or by slaughter weight categories. The effect of gender, however, proved to be significant in influencing the quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic and linolenic acids, as well as polyunsaturated fatty/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SAFA) ratio. The amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was higher in males than in females. Negative correlation was established between the quantity of PUFA and the amount of adipose tissue in rib samples.