Qualitative characteristics of beef and expression of lipogenic genes from young bulls fed dried distillers grain

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to analyze tenderness, fatty acid profile, colour and expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism in the muscle of young bulls fed diets with or without the inclusion of dry distillers grain with solubles (DDGS). Forty Nellore young bulls were used in a completely randomized design, with two treatments: without or with the inclusion of DDGS (21% DM). Eight rumen-fistulated Nellore bulls received the same diets and were assigned to a cross-over design in order to collect samples from the omasum to analyze fatty acid profile escaping rumen-reticulum. Longissimus thoracis (LT) from animals fed DDGS had an interaction between time and diet for component L* and a higher SF. Bulls fed DDGS had higher concentration of polyunsatured and omega 6 fatty acids in the omasum. Muscle of animals fed DDGS had higher concentration of unsaturated, and there was a tendency to have lesser expression of LPL gene. These data show that DDGS can be fed as a protein supplement while maintaining meat quality when compared with steers fed cottonseed meal as a protein supplement.