Fatty acid profile and chemical composition of meat from Nellore steers finished on pasture with different amounts of supplementation
The use of supplements to feed grazing ruminants may improve the productivity and profitability of beef cattle productive systems. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different supplementation amounts on the meat quality of Nellore steers finished on pasture. Forty steers were maintained on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pasture and finished on different concentrate supplementation amounts: 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9% of body weight. There was no effect (P > 0.10) of supplementation on 14:0, 14:1 n-5, 15:0, 15:1 n-6, 16:1 n-10, 16:1 n-9, 16:1 n-7, 18:1 c-9, 18:1 t-9, 18:2 n-6, conjugated linoleic acid, 20:4 n-6, 22:0 and 22:5 n-3. However, the 17:1 n-10 decreased linearly (P < 0.01) while 18:0 increased linearly (P < 0.01) when supplementation was added. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.10) for 16:0 and 18:1 t-11, as well as for 18:3 n-6. The total concentration of n-3 was linearly reduced, whereas the n-6/n-3 ratio was linearly increased. The use of concentrate supplements for Nellore steers finished on pasture, at amounts up to 0.9% of body weight, does not improve the unsaturated fatty acids content. On the other hand, the supplementation increases the content of saturated fatty acids in meat of steers.