Effect of supplementing flaxseed oil on growth and carcass traits of Friesian bulls

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate effects of supplementing flaxseed oil (FSO) on growth and carcass traits, as well as meat chemical composition, quality, and fatty acids (FA) profile in Friesian bulls. The bulls (n = 30) were randomly divided into 3 groups (G1-G3, n = 10/group). In G1 (control), animals fed basal diet, while in G2 and G3, they were supplemented with 2% and 4% FSO, respectively, for ~ 7 months. The obtained results revealed that bulls fed diet supplemented with 2% (G2) and 4% (G3) FSO had significantly higher TDN intake (P ˂ 0.01) and average daily gain (P ˂ 0.05) than G1. Additionally, G3 showed significantly higher hot carcass weight (P<0.001), dressing % (P<0.05), fat weight (P<0.05), boneless meat weight (P<0.001), 9-11th ribs cut weights (P<0.05), DM (P<0.01), CP (P<0.05), and CF (P<0.05) in eye muscle, and general cooked meat quality (P<0.05) than G1. However, meat of G3 had significantly (P<0.05) lower water-holding capacity than G1. Meat contents of C20:0 and C22:0 SFAs were significantly higher in G3 (P<0.05) than G1, while C14:0, C15:0, and C17:0 were significantly (P<0.05) lower in G3 and G2 than G1. C16:1 trans-9 MUFA was significantly higher in G3 (P<0.01) and G2 (P<0.05) than G1, while C18:1 cis-9 +trans-13-14 and C20:1 cis-11 were significantly lower in G3 (P<0.001) and G2 (P<0.05) than G1. Among the 2 treated groups, only G3 had significantly higher C17:1 cis-9 (P<0.05), C18:1 cis-11+trans15 (P<0.01), and C18:1 cis-15+trans-16 (P<0.01) and significantly lower C16:1 cis-7 (P<0.05) and C18:1 trans-12 (P<0.01) than G1. Meat contents of C18:3 n-3 (ALA), C22:5 n-3 (EPA) and C22:6 n-3 (DHA) was significantly higher in G3 (P<0.0001) and G2 (P<0.05) than G1. The total n-3 FAs content in meat was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in G3 and G2 than G1, while only G3 showed significantly higher total PUFA (P<0.05) than G1. The n-6:n-3 ratio was significantly (P<0.0001) lower in G3 and G2 than G1. With these results, we could conclude that flaxseed oil supplementation in bull diets could improve growth performance, and carcass quality and increase omega-3 FA in animal meat.