Fatty acid composition and tocopherol content of muscle in pigs fed organic and conventional feed with different n6/n3 ratios, respectively

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of organically certified feed (KRAV) with regard to different fatty acid n-6/n-3 dietary ratios, on the fatty acid composition of muscle neutral and polar lipids. Forty-four pigs of two sexes (castrated males and females) were given two feeds with two different n-6/n-3 ratios (9.33 and 7.13). The results showed that the dietary n-6/n-3 ratio influenced the muscle n-6/n-3 ratio of polar and neutral lipids. In general, female pig muscle had a significantly higher level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in both lipid classes, than muscles from castrated males. However, whereas PUFA levels were generally higher in the neutral lipids, levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) were higher in the polar lipids of female pig muscle. Negative correlations were found between PUFA level in both neutral and polar lipids and carcass fatness parameters, even though the correlations were stronger in the neutral lipids.