Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue of Jersey cattle during growth and development

Abstract

SUMMARY: The effect of age on the fatty acid composition of depot fat of Jersey cattle has been investigated. Serial samples of subcutaneous fat were obtained by biopsy of the same animals from 3 months to 2 years of age. Samples of depot fat were also obtained from various anatomical locations of animals slaughtered between birth and 11 years of age.In subcutaneous fat at biopsy the percentage stearic acid remained constant to 1 year of age and then declined from 20% to 5% during the period 1–2 years post partum.In perinephric fat the stearic acid content increased from 10–15% at birth to 40% at 1 year of age, and then declined during the period 1–2 years post partum.Changes in the percentage stearic acid above the 10% level were accompanied by inverse change in octadecenoic (C18:1) acid, and below 10% mainly by change in hexadecenoic (C16:l) acid.There was a gradient of unsaturation between subcutaneous and internal body fats, and also within the subcutaneous fat itself.Evidence is presented to suggest that the decrease in the unsaturation of depot fat during the period 1–2 years post partum is associated with the deposition of more unsaturated fatty acids during the fattening phase of development.