Influence of feeding system on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat and fat quality of Avileña-Negra Ibérica calves’ breed

Abstract

The effect of feeding system (calves reared under free-range conditions supplemented with concentrate vs. calves fed on concentrate and cereal straw in confinement) during finishing period on growth performance, carcass traits and meat and fat quality was investigated. Fourteen entire males of Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed were used. The feeding system had no effect on growth performance, carcass characteristics, muscle colour, drip losses and intramuscular fat (IMF) percentage in Longissimus thoracis. Free-range calves had more content of vitamin E in omental fat and tended (p<0.1) to have more vitamin E in IMF than calves finished in confinement. C16:0 and C16:1 n-9 proportions in omental fat were higher in calves finished in confinement, while C18:1 n-7, C18:3 n-3, Σn-3 proportions were lower. The ratio Σpolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to Σsaturated fatty acids (SFA) was significantly greater in omental fat from free-range calves. The C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C17:0, C17:1, C18:1 n-9 and Σmonounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were higher and C18:3 n-3 and Σn-3 proportions lower in IMF from calves finished in confinement. The ratio C18:1 n-9 to C18:0 was higher in IMF from calves fed on concentrate and straw and the ratio ΣPUFA to ΣSFA tended (p<0.1) to be greater in free-range calves. Intramuscular fat percentage affected to fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis. Feeding system based in finishing calves in confinement with straw and concentrate can be replaced by supplementation with concentrate in grazing without detrimental effect on quality.