SEQUENTIAL FEEDING OF EXTRUDED FLAXSEED (LinPRO-RTM) AND HAY INCREASES N-3 PUFA BIOHYDROGENATION INTERMEDIATES IN LONGISSIMUS THORACIS OF STEERS

The present study was designed to determine if feeding steers extruded flaxseed and hay (25% and 75%; DM basis) together as a total mixed ration (TMR), or sequentially (non-TMR) would affect fatty acid profiles of longissimus thoracis (LT). Twenty four steers were fed per diet for 242 days. Dry matter intake was lower for non-TMR than TMR (P = 0.02), but growth performance did not differ. Overall carcass and meat quality were not affected by diet. Compared to TMR, non-TMR enriched LT α-linolenic acid +14%, vaccenic acid +44%, rumenic acid +40%, and conjugated linolenic acid +58% (P < 0.05). Overall, feeding non-TMR compared to TMR effectively enhanced deposition of healthful fatty acids in beef muscle.