Corn oil supplementation to steers grazing endophyte-free tall fescue. II. Effects on longissimus muscle and subcutaneous adipose fatty acid composition and stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity and expression

Cottonseed and Soy-bean agro-industrial by-products used in feedlot cattle diet: effects on beef fatty acid profile and quality parameters

ABSTRACT Beef composition are directly influenced by the dietary fat, particularly in ruminants, due to rumen biohydrogenation, which promotes alterations in the dietary fatty acid (FA) profile and affects the meat quality. Beef sensorial, chemical, and FA compositions of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat were evaluated, from 40 Nellore males finished on feedlot diet based, containing cottonseed (CSB) and soybean by-product (SOB) as agro-industrial by-product fat sources. CSB as a fat source, did not alter the beef pH, shear force, chemical composition, or subcutaneous FA profile compared with the SOB diet. Differences were observed at yellow and red beef color, with low and high CSB diet inclusion; on the contrary, inclusion of SOB in the diet led to an intensely unpleasant aroma in aged and cooked meats. Regarding beef FA profile, CSB with 3% dietary fat produced steaks with a lower proportion of C 17:0 , having 1.359 and 3.238 g/100 g of intramuscular FA, whereas CSB with 5% dietary fat led to an increase in C 18:2 n -6 , with 0.298 and 0.132 g/100 g of intramuscular FA in steaks from animals fed with CSB and SOB, respectively. CSB produced more intense red beef color, unpleasant aroma, and higher linoleic acid content; however, the color and aroma of the meat produced from cattle fed with CSB in the diet were less intense and were like those observed in cattle fed with SOB; these could therefore be recommended for use as agro-industrial by-products in beef cattle diet.

Longissimus Muscle Composition and Palatability of Grazing Steers Supplemented with Corn Oil or Corn Grain

Twenty-eight Angus (289 ± 3.8 kg) steers were used to evaluate the effect of isocaloric supplementation of 2 different energy sources to steers grazing tall fescue pastures for 197 d on longissimus muscle fatty acid profile, shear force, tenderness and color. Steers were supplemented with either corn grain (PC) or soybean hulls plus corn oil (PO). A negative control, pasture only (PA), and positive control, high-concentrate control diets (CONC) were also included in the study. Total trans-11 vaccenic acid (TVA) and cis-9, trans-11 CLA content per serving were similar with PA, PC and CONC and greatest with PO (P < 0.001). Muscle total fatty acids, myristic and palmitic contents per serving were similar with PC, PO, and PA and greatest with CONC (P < 0.001). Muscle PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio was greater with PC than with PA and lower with PC than with CONC, but it was greatest with PO (P < 0.001). Shear force was lower (P = 0.046) with CONC than with PA and PC; beef from PO did not differ from any of the other treatments. Sensory panel scores for overall tenderness (P < 0.001) were greatest with CONC, greater with PO than with PC, and similar with PA than with PO and PC. Muscle lightness was similar for PO and PC, greater with PO and PC than with PA and lower with PO and PC than with CONC (P < 0.001). Treatment by time postmortem interaction was significant for muscle temperature (P < 0.001), but not for muscle pH (P = 0.79). Temperature decline was fastest with PA and slowest with CONC. Postmortem muscle pH was greater with PA, PC, and PO than with CONC (P = 0.011). Overall, fatty acid profile with PC was closer to the fatty acid profile with PA than that with PO or CONC. Finishing systems altered fat deposition, which impacted chilling rate, muscle color and palatability.

Quality characteristics of meat from triceps brachii muscle from steers and heifers finished on high-concentrate diets containing increasing concentrations of linseed oil

The aim of the present study was to assess the qualitative and chemical characteristics of a shoulder muscle (triceps brachii muscle, medial head (TBm)) of 15 Nellore × Canchim steers and 14 heifers of the same cross fed diets containing 80% concentrate on a dry-matter (DM) basis and increasing concentrations of linseed oil (1%, 3.8% and 5.2% of DM). A randomised incomplete-block design, divided on the basis of initial bodyweight, in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (oil concentration and animal sex) was used. Oil concentrations were evaluated by linear and quadratic regression. The finishing period lasted for 96, 110 or 138 days, until the average weight of each block reached 500 kg. At 24 h postmortem, TBm samples were taken to evaluate quality traits and chemical composition. Meat from steers was significantly (P < 0.05) brighter than was heifer meat (brightness (L*) = 39.55 vs 36.28). The addition of linseed oil up to 5.2% improved the pH value of TBm in heifers (6.07, 6.22 and 5.77). No significant (P > 0.05) influence was observed for linseed oil addition up to 5.2% of DM or animal sex on the chemical characteristics of TBm, estimated activity of Δ9-desaturase and elongase, and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. However, the increasing inclusion of linseed oil in the diet of crossbred cattle increased (P < 0.05) conjugated linoleic acid (0.46, 0.66 and 0.73 g/100 g total fatty acids), α-linolenic acid (0.39, 0.69 and 1.31 g/100 g total fatty acids for steers; 0.36, 0.79 and 0.76 g/100 g total fatty acids for heifers), γ-linolenic acid (0.07, 0.10 and 0.24 g/100 g total fatty acids), and the sum of n-3 fatty acids. The increasing inclusion of linseed oil also increased the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and decreased the ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids (11.68, 6.43 and 5.26 for steers; 10.69, 6.93 and 6.03 for heifers). Supplementation of finishing cattle with linseed oil is an effective means to increase n-3 fatty acid concentration in forequarter muscle.

Impacts of fat from ruminants' meat on cardiovascular health and possible strategies to alter its lipid composition

In the last few decades there has been increased consumer interest in the fatty acid (FA) composition of ruminant meat due to its content of saturated FAs, which have been implicated in diseases associated with modern life. However, recent studies have questioned the recommendations to reduce intake of fat, saturated FAs and cholesterol as a means of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Interestingly, ruminant meat has some bioactive lipids such as C18:1t11 and C18:2 c9, t11 which have been reported to have positive effects on human health. In order to improve muscle fat composition from a human health standpoint, oilseeds, plant oils and marine oils can be used in ruminant diets. On the other hand, molecular mechanisms play an important role in the alteration of the FA composition of muscle fat. Genetics offer a wide range of possibilities for improvement of muscle fat composition by identifying different loci underlying the expression of quantitative traits. While significant progress has been made in characterizing the influence of diet on the FA composition of ruminant meat, the use of genetic tools can favor genotypes that could maximize their genetic potential through the diet. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Animal performance and meat characteristics in steers reared in intensive conditions fed with different vegetable oils

Enhancing the quality of beef meat is an important goal in terms of improving both the nutritional value for the consumer and the commercial value for producers. The aim of this work was to study the effects of different vegetable oil supplements on growth performance, carcass quality and meat quality in beef steers reared under intensive conditions. A total of 240 Blonde D' Aquitaine steers (average BW=293.7±38.88 kg) were grouped into 24 batches (10 steers/batch) and were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments (eight batches per treatment), each supplemented with either 4% hydrogenated palm oil (PALM) or fatty acids (FAs) from olive oil (OLI) or soybean oil (SOY). No differences in growth performance or carcass quality were observed. For the meat quality analysis, a steer was randomly selected from each batch and the 6th rib on the left half of the carcass was dissected. PALM meat had the highest percentage of 16:0 (P<0.05) and the lowest n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio (P<0.05), OLI had the highest content of t11-18:1 (P<0.01) and c9,t11-18:2 (P<0.05) and SOY showed the lowest value of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (P<0.001), the highest percentage of PUFA (P<0.01) and a lower index of atherogenicity (P=0.07) than PALM. No significant differences in the sensory characteristics of the meat were noted. However, the results of the principal component analysis of meat characteristics enabled meat from those steers that consumed fatty acids from olive oil to be differentiated from that of steers that consumed soybean oil.

Expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism in the muscle of beef cattle fed soybean or rumen-protected fat, with or without monensin supplementation

Degree of unsaturation of fatty acids, which is influenced by lipid source and level of metabolism in the rumen, is a major determinant in how dietary lipids affect genes that regulate beef marbling. A total of 28 Red Norte bulls with an initial live weight of 361±32 kg (P>0.05) were used in a completely randomized experimental design to analyze the expression of genes that are involved in lipid metabolism in the longissimus dorsi (LD) when diets contained soybean grain or rumen-protected fat, with or without monensin. Treatments were arranged as a 2×2 factorial, with 4 treatments and 7 replicates per treatment. Half of the animals that received soybean or rumen-protected fat were supplemented with 230 mg head(-1) d(-1) of monensin. Gene expression was analyzed by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in the LD muscle was not affected by lipid source or monensin (P>0.05). There was an interaction effect (P<0.05) between lipid source and monensin for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) expression, where greater gene expression was found in animals fed soybean plus monensin and the lower gene expression was found in animals fed rumen-protected fat plus monensin. Expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) were greater (P<0.05) in the LD muscle of animals fed soybean. Monensin had no effect on LPL and FABP4 expression when soybean without monensin was fed, but when rumen-protected fat was fed, monensin increased LPL expression and decreased FABP4 expression (P<0.05). Linoleic and arachidonic acids had negative correlations (P<0.05) with the expression of PPAR-α, SCD, FABP4, and LPL genes. PPAR-α gene expression was not correlated with SREBP-1c but was positively correlated with SCD, FABP4, LPL, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) gene expression (P<0.001). Lipid sources and monensin interact and alter the expression of PPAR-α, SCD, acetyl CoA carboxylase α (ACACA), LPL, FABP4, and GPX1. These changes in gene expression were most associated with arachidonic and α-linolenic acids and the ability of lipid sources and monensin to increase these fatty acids in tissues.

Effect of corn supplementation of grass finishing of Holstein bulls on fatty acid composition of meat lipids

Finishing Holstein young bulls exclusively on pasture generally results in very lean carcass and meat, but corn supplementation is expected to simultaneously improve carcass traits and intramuscular lipids (IML). The expected increase in IML would allow for a larger 18:2c9,t11 (CLA) deposition in meat without affecting the n-3 PUFA present in LM phospholipids (PL). Holstein bulls (n = 33) with initial BW of 423 ± 52.4 kg reared exclusively on pasture were assigned to 1 of 3 finishing period (85 d) diets: finished exclusively on pasture (P0) or finished on pasture and individually supplemented with 4 (P4) or 8 kg/d (P8) of ground corn. Final BW (546 ± 56.3 kg) was not affected (P > 0.05) by corn supplementation, but ADG increased (P < 0.01) with the increasing corn supplementation level from 1.23 kg/d for P0 to 1.44 kg/d for P4 and to 1.67 kg/d for P8. Subcutaneous fat depth in P0 bulls was 0.8 mm and increased (P < 0.001) in both P4 (2.9 mm) and P8 (2.7 mm) bulls, but no difference (P = 0.73) was observed between P4 and P8 bulls. Similarly, the IML increased with corn supplementation, from 1.84 g/100 g muscle in P0 to 2.96 in P4 and to 3.24 in P8, but no difference (P = 0.55) was found between P4 and P8 bulls. Corn supplementation decreased (P < 0.01) 18:1t11 in neutral lipids (NL) but not 18:2c9,t11 (P > 0.34). The 18:1t10 (mg/g total NL fatty acid [FA] ± SEM) were 2.5 ± 0.13 in P0, 5.5 ± 1.68 in P4, and 14.8 ± 3.18 in P8 bulls, being greater in P8 compared with P4 (P = 0.02). Total FA in muscle PL and SFA were unaffected, but increasing corn supplementation resulted (P < 0.001) in an increase of 18:2n-6 in PL by replacement of mostly the 18:1c9 and 18:3n-3. Notably, the total number of cis double bonds present in FA of PL remained constant (P = 0.74) with corn supplementation. Compared with P0, corn supplementation maintained (P > 0.05) the high n-3 PUFA content in meat (mg/100 g meat) and increased the 18:2c9,t11 (P = 0.028) and 18:1c9 (P < 0.001). However, increasing corn supplementation from 4 to 8 kg/d increased the 18:1t10 (P = 0.031) and had no effect on 18:2c9,t11. Therefore, supplementing grass-finished Holstein bulls with moderate amounts of ground corn (4 kg/d) increased carcass fat cover and IML, maintained n-3 PUFA, and increased 18:2c9,t11 content in meat, whereas greater corn supplementation (8 kg/d; P8) resulted in no further improvements.

Fatty acid composition and interrelationships among eight retail cuts of grass-feed beef

The aim of this research was to evaluate: 1) fatty acid (FA) profile of eight retail cuts (eye of round, ribeye, top round, striploin, tenderloin, top-sirloin, underblade, ground beef) from grass-fed steers, 2) the association between striploin (longissimus muscle) FA profile and that from the other retail cuts, and 3) the changes in FA profile associated with retail cut total FA content. All of the retail cuts, except underblade and ground beef, would be considered lean (<10 g) based on total FA content. Total saturated fatty acids were positively correlated to total FA content; whereas, negative correlations were observed with total FA content and total monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. No correlation was observed between total FA and CLA cis-9, trans-11. Striploin trans-11 C18:1 and CLA cis-9, trans-11 proportions, and n-6:n-3 ratio were positive and highly correlated with those in the other retail cuts.

Fatty Acid Profiles and Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Gene Expression in Longissimus dorsi Muscle of Growing Lambs Influenced by Addition of Tea Saponins and Soybean Oil

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary addition of tea saponins (TS) and soybean oil (SO) on fatty acid profile and gene expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) in longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of growing lambs. Thirty-two Huzhou lambs were assigned to four dietary treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement with main effects of TS (0 or 3 g/d) and SO (0 or 30 g/kg of diet DM). The diet without additives was considered as NTNS (no TS or SO). After a feeding trial for 60 d, four lambs of each treatment were slaughtered to collect the samples of LD muscle. Percentage of trans-11 vaccenic acid was enhanced (p<0.05) in muscle of lambs fed TS and SO. The proportion of total conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was increased (p<0.05) by SO, but decreased (p<0.05) by TS in LD muscle. The percentage of total saturated fatty acids in muscle was decreased (p<0.05) by addition of TS and SO, while addition of SO increased (p<0.05) the percentage of total polyunsaturated fatty acids. The ratio of cis-9, trans-11 CLA to tran-11 vaccenic acid was decreased (p<0.05) by TS, but increased (p<0.05) by SO. The same effects were observed in SCD mRNA expression. From these results it is indicated that including TS and SO in the diet of growing lambs affect the fatty acid profiles of LD muscle and that the proportion of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in the muscle influenced by TS and SO may be related to the SCD gene expression.

Omega-6 fat supplementation alters lipogenic gene expression in bovine subcutaneous adipose tissue

In contrast to rodents, adipose tissue serves as the major site of lipogenesis and storage reservoir for excess dietary energy in cattle. Research in rodents shows that adding corn oil (57% C18:2 n-6) to the diet alters lipogenesis enhancing deposition of omega-6 fatty acids. This study examines changes in lipogenic gene expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue from eighteen steers fed increasing levels of dietary corn oil [0 (NONE), 0.31 kg/d (MED) and 0.62 kg/d (HI)] using two platforms, qPCR and microarray. The results show that MED level of oil supplementation up-regulates gene expression of key lipogenic enzymes but that as oil supplementation reaches HI level mRNA encoding lipogenic enzymes responsible for de novo synthesis and desaturation are down-regulated. Changes in specific lipogenic mRNA levels are correlated with changes in tissue fatty acid composition where de novo and desatured fatty acids were reduced with the highest level of oil supplementation.

Relationship between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in the muscle of German Holstein bulls Fed n-3 and n-6 PUFA-enriched diets

This study evaluated the influence of different n-3 and n-6 PUFA-enriched diets on the relationship between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status by analyzing fatty acids (FA), lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity (AOC), antioxidant enzymes, trace elements, and fat-soluble vitamins in the longissimus muscle. Diet caused significant changes in muscle FA composition, leading to accumulation of beneficial n-3 FA. beta-Carotene and catalase activity were significantly elevated in muscle of the n-3 PUFA-enriched diet group compared to the n-6 PUFA-enriched diet group. Lipid peroxidation was higher in muscle of the n-3 PUFA-enriched diet group after 15 min of reaction time. There was no significant effect of diet on AOC, but it increased with reaction time. The present results suggest that the antioxidant defense in muscle of the n-3 PUFA-enriched diet group could balance reactive substances under low oxidative conditions. However, the antioxidant capacity was not sufficient under abundant accumulation of reactive substances.

The effect of dietary fat content on phospholipid fatty acid profile is muscle fiber type dependent

A high-saturated-fat diet (HFD) induces obesity and insulin resistance (IR). IR has been linked to alterations and increased saturation in the phospholipid composition of skeletal muscles. We aimed to determine whether HFD feeding affects fatty acid (FA) membrane profile in a muscle fiber type-specific manner. We measured phospholipid FAs and expression of FA synthesis genes in oxidative soleus (SOL) and glycolytic extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from rats fed either standard chow (standard laboratory diet, SLD) or a HFD. The HFD increased fat mass, plasma insulin, and leptin levels. Compared with EDL, SOL muscles preferentially accumulated C18 over C16 FAs and n-6 over n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) on either diet. With the HFD, SOL muscles contained more n-9 monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) and n-6 PUFAs and less n-7 MUFAs and n-3 PUFAs than EDL muscles and had lower unsaturation index, a pattern known to be associated with IR. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 expression was approximately 13-fold greater in EDL than in SOL muscles but did not change with the HFD in either muscle. The expression of Elongase-5 was higher, and that of Elongase-6 (Elovl6) was lower in EDL compared with SOL muscles with both diets. In EDL muscles, the expression of Elovl6 was lower in the HFD than in the SLD. The pattern of FA uptake, expression, and diet-induced changes in FA desaturating and elongating enzymes maintained higher FA unsaturation in EDL muscles. Accordingly, the fiber type composition of skeletal muscles and their distribution may be important in the development and progression of obesity and IR.

Effect of diet supplementation on the expression of bovine genes associated with Fatty Acid synthesis and metabolism

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are of important nutritional and health benefit to human. Food products of animal origin are their major dietary source and their concentration increases with high concentrate diets fed to animals. To examine the effects of diet supplementation on the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, 28 Angus steers were fed either pasture only, pasture with soybean hulls and corn oil, pasture with corn grain, or high concentrate diet. At slaughter, samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue were collected, from which RNA was extracted. Relative abundance of gene expression was measured using Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine Genome array. An ANOVA model nested within gene was used to analyze the background adjusted, normalized average difference of probe-level intensities. To control experiment wise error, a false discovery rate of 0.01 was imposed on all contrasts. Expression of several genes involved in the synthesis of enzymes related to fatty acid metabolism and lipogenesis such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), fatty acid synthetase (FASN), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty-acyl elongase (LCE) along with several trancription factors and co-activators involved in lipogenesis were found to be differentially expressed. Confirmatory RT-qPCR was done to validate the microarray results, which showed satisfactory correspondence between the two platforms. Results show that changes in diet by increasing dietary energy intake by supplementing high concentrate diet have effects on the transcription of genes encoding enzymes involved in fat metabolism which in turn has effects on fatty acid content in the carcass tissue as well as carcass quality. Corn supplementation either as oil or grain appeared to significantly alter the expression of genes directly associated with fatty acid synthesis.

Δ(9) desaturase protein expression and fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi muscle in lambs fed green herbage or concentrate with or without added tannins

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of feeding system and of supplementation of tannins (8.93% DM) on the relationship between intramuscular fat content, fatty acid composition and Δ(9)desaturase (Δ(9)d) protein expression in longissimus dorsi muscle of lamb. Twenty-eight Comisana lambs (age 45days) were fed either vetch (Vicia sativa) or concentrate. The herbage diet was (i) lower in saturated fatty acids (especially in C16:0), C18:1 n-9 and in C18:2 n-6; (ii) higher in C16:1 and C18:3 n-3 when compared to concentrate. Within each feeding system the lambs were divided into two sub-groups, one of which received the diet without tannins supplementation, and the other was fed the diets supplemented with the tannins from Quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii). The animals were slaughtered at age 105days. The concentrate feeding system increased (p<0.01) the total intramuscular fat content and the amount of SFA, MUFA and n-6 PUFA and decreased the level of n-3 PUFA (p=0.05) when compared to the vetch-fed animals but did not affect Δ(9) desaturase protein expression. There was no correlation between Δ(9)d protein expression and total intramuscular fatty acids, CLA and MUFA level. It was suggested that in ruminants, in contrast to monogastric animals, Δ(9)d expression does not play the key role in intramuscular fatty acids formation. Tannins supplementation resulted in higher (p<0.05) muscle levels of transC18:1 and C18:2 n-6. It has also increased Δ(9)d expression in the case of herbage-based diet but not in the case of concentrate-based diet. The mechanism of tannins action on the enzyme expression needs to be elucidated.

Corn oil or corn grain supplementation to steers grazing endophyte-free tall fescue. II. Effects on subcutaneous fatty acid content and lipogenic gene expression

Twenty-eight Angus steers (289 kg) were finished on a high-concentrate diet (85% concentrate: 15% roughage; CONC), or endophyte-free tall fescue pastures with corn grain supplement (0.52% of BW; PC), corn oil plus soybean hull supplement (0.10% of BW corn oil plus 0.45% of BW soybean hulls; PO), or no supplement (pasture only; PA). Subcutaneous adipose tissues were processed for total cellular RNA extraction and fatty acid composition by GLC. Relative expression of genes involved in lipogenesis [fatty acid synthase (FASN), acetyl-CoA carboxylase, lipoprotein lipase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)] and activators of transcription [(peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma), C/EBPalpha, sterol regulatory binding protein-1, signal transducer and activator of transcription-5, and Spot-14] was determined by real-time quantitative PCR. Housekeeping gene (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and beta-actin) expression was used in analysis to normalize expression data. Total fatty acid content was greatest (P < 0.001) for CONC and least (P < 0.001) for PA. Supplementation of grazing cattle increased (P < 0.001) total fatty acid content compared with PA, but concentrations were less (P < 0.001) than for CONC. Myristic and palmitic acid contents were greater (P < 0.001) for CONC than for PO and PC, which were greater (P < 0.001) than for PA. Stearic acid content was greater (P < 0.01) for PO than for CONC, PC, and PA. Finishing on CONC increased (P < 0.001) total MUFA content by 68% compared with PA. Corn grain supplementation increased (P < 0.001) MUFA content compared with PA; in contrast, MUFA content did not differ (P > 0.05) between PO and PA. Corn oil supplementation increased (P < 0.001) trans-11 vaccenic acid content in subcutaneous fat by 1.2-, 1.7- and 5.6-fold relative to PA, PC, and CONC, respectively. Concentrations of the cis-9, trans-11 CLA isomer were 54, 58, and 208% greater (P < 0.01) for PO than for PA, PC, and CONC, respectively. Corn grain supplementation to grazing steers did not alter (P > 0.05) the cis-9, trans-11 CLA isomer compared with PA. Oil supplementation increased (P < 0.001) linoleic acid (C18:2) content by 56, 98 and 262% compared with CONC, PC, and PA, respectively. Relative mRNA expression of SCD was upregulated (P < 0.001) by 46-, 18- and 7-fold, respectively, for CONC, PC, and PO compared with PA. Relative FASN mRNA expression was also upregulated (P = 0.004) by 9- and 5-fold, respectively, for CONC and PC compared with PA. Grain feeding, either on CONC or supplemented on pasture, upregulated FASN and SCD mRNA to increase MUFA and de novo fatty acids in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Upregulation of SCD with grain feeding and reduced tissue CLA concentrations suggest that the decreased CLA concentrations were the result of limited substrate (trans-11 vaccenic acid) availability.

Corn oil or corn grain supplementation to steers grazing endophyte-free tall fescue. I. Effects on in vivo digestibility, performance, and carcass quality

Twenty-eight Angus (289 +/- 3.8 kg) steers were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effect of isocaloric supplementation of 2 different energy sources to steers rotationally grazing tall fescue pastures for 197 d in comparison to positive and negative controls. Steers were supplemented with either corn grain (0.52% BW on a DM basis; PC) or soybean hulls plus corn oil (0.45% BW on a DM basis + 0.10% BW on an as-fed basis; PO) using Calan gates for individual intake measurement. Negative, pasture only (PA), and positive, high-concentrate control diets (85% concentrate:15% roughage on DM basis; C) were also included in the study. Steers on PC, PO, and PA treatments were managed together under a rotational grazing system, whereas C steers were fed a high-concentrate diet for the final 113 d using Calan gates. Forage DMI and apparent DM and NDF digestibility for the grazing treatments were evaluated using Cr(2)O(5) and indigestible NDF as digesta markers. Energy supplementation decreased (P = 0.02) forage DMI (% of BW) with respect to PA, but not (P = 0.58) total DMI. There were no differences (P = 0.53) among grazing treatments on apparent total DM digestibility. However, NDF digestibility was less (P < or = 0.05) in PC than in PO and PA; the latter 2 treatments did not differ (P > 0.05). Overall ADG was greater (P < 0.01) in supplemented, regardless of type, than in nonsupplemented grazing treatments. During the final 113 d, ADG was greater (P < 0.01) in C than in the grazing treatments. Overall supplement conversion did not differ (P = 0.73) between supplement types and was less (P = 0.006) than C. Carcass traits did not differ (P > 0.05) between energy sources. Dressing percentage and HCW were greater (P < 0.01) in supplemented cattle than in PA. Fat thickness and KPH percentage for PA were less (P < 0.05) than for PO but did not differ (P > 0.14) from PC. Marbling score, LM area, and quality grade did not differ (P > 0.05) between grazing treatments. Hot carcass weight for C was heavier (P < 0.001) than for pastured cattle. Quality and yield grades of C carcasses were also greater (P < 0.001) than carcasses from pastured steers. Energy supplementation, regardless of source, to grazing steers increased ADG, dressing percentage, and carcass weight compared with PA steers; however, supplemented steers had less ADG, efficiency, dressing percentage, and carcass weight compared with high-concentrate finished steers.