Studies on the fatty acid composition of intramuscular lipids of cattle, pigs and birds.

The fatty acid composition of the intramuscular lipids of cattle, pigs and birds were determined relative to breed and feeding regime. The cattle included Yellow Cattle, Hereford and Japanese Black; pigs included Wild-boar, Touyuens and Yorkshires; the birds were Wild-birds, Jungle-fowl and broilers. The pen fed animals such as Japanese Black cattle and Yorkshire pigs had a higher amounts of oleic acid, palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid. On the other hand, wild or pasture fed animals such as the Herefords, Wild-boars and Touyuens had higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid, icosapentaenoic acid and omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. Among Wild-fowl, open-yard fed birds or broilers, there was no difference in fatty acid composition. It is suggested the meat of pasture fed or wild fed animals such as Herefords, Yellow Cattle and Wild-boar is better for health than meat from pen fed animals.