Of Bovine Tissue

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of abomasally administered safflower oil on the percentage of Cts fatty acids in tissue of steers. In the first experiment two mature steers were given 460 g of oil daily by injection through an abomasal cannula and, after 58 and 86 days, linoleic acid was 2.4 and 4.9%, respectively, of the long-chain fatty acids in the longissimus muscle. Another steer was fed oil for 86 days and had 0.9% linoleic acid in that tissue. Other tissues had similar percentages of linoleic acid. In the second experiment 15 growing steers were either continuously infused with 280 g of safflower oil daily via abomasal cannula, offered 280 g of oil daily mixed with the diet, or given no oil. At 56 days on experiment average plasma cholesterol was 268, 138, and 103 rag/100 ml for the treatments, respectively. Perianal fat was 8.8, 1.9, and 1.8% linoleic acid. The steers were slaughtered at 60 days and fat over the rib and omental fat had similar percentages of linoleic acid for the respective treatments. Taste panel organoleptic tests were conducted at 2, 9, 16, and 23 days post-slaughter. There were no differences ( P > . 0 5 ) among days within treatments for the taste panel analyses of the meat. Cooked meat was rated no different (P> . IO) among treatments for aroma, flavor intensity or desirability of fat and lean, nor juice quality or quantity.