Fatty acid, volatile and sensory characteristics of beef as affected by grass silage or pasture in the bovine diet

Abstract Fatty acids, volatile compounds and sensory attributes of beef from bulls fed concentrates to slaughter (C), grass silage for 120 days (GS) followed by C (GSC), or GS followed by 100 days at pasture and then C (GSPC), and slaughtered at 3 target carcass weights, were determined. Total intramuscular fat (IMF) was lower for GSPC than for GSC and C. C18:3 n –3 concentration and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) to saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio were higher and C18:2 n –6 and monounsaturated fatty acid concentrations and n –6: n –3 PUFA ratio lower for GSPC than C. C16:0, C18:0 and C18:1 c 9 increased with carcass weight when expressed quantitatively, but not when expressed proportionately. Hexanal concentration was higher and 2-methyl-1-butanol and toluene lower for C and GSC than for GSPC. Overall liking was negatively correlated with C20:5 n –3 and PUFA/SFA ratio, but differences in sensory attributes (tenderness, flavour liking, overall liking) were most strongly correlated with IMF.