Meat quality and fatty acid profile of the musculus longissimus lumborum in Czech Fleckvieh, Charolais and Charolais × Czech Fleckvieh bulls fed different types of silages

Abstract

The effects of breed and diet containing different types of silages on meat quality parameters and fatty acid profile of m. longissimus lumborum (MLL) were evaluated in a total of 30 Czech Fleckvieh (CF), Charolais (CH) and Charolais × Czech Fleckvieh (CH × CF) bulls. The animals were fed two mixed diets: MS (based on maize silage) and LCS (based on legume-cereal mixture silage and lucerne silages) with different concentrations of dietary energy and fatty acids. The MLL from CH bulls had the lowest content of dry matter (P < 0.01), less protein (P < 0.01) and lighter meat (P < 0.01) compared to the CF. The extensive LCS diet reduced dry matter (P < 0.01) and intramuscular fat (P < 0.01) and increased the content of hydroxyproline (P < 0.05). The CH bulls exhibited higher PUFA n-3 (P < 0.05) and lower MUFA (P < 0.05) compared to the CF, with the CH × CF being intermediate. The LCS diet enhanced the proportions of PUFA (P < 0.05) and PUFA n-3 (P < 0.001) and reduced MUFA (P < 0.001). In conclusion, both breed and diet affected the meat quality and fatty acid profile of the intramuscular fat of the bulls. The replacement of maize silage with the legume-cereal mixture and lucerne silages in the diet reduced the concentration of intramuscular fat and improved its fatty acid profile from the human nutrition perspective.