The Incorporation of Linoleic Acid Into the Tissues of Growing Steers Offered a Dietary Supplement of Formaldehyde-Treated Casein-Safflower Oil

Abstract

A formaldehyde. treated' casein-safflower oil supplement was included in the diet of nine Friesian steers and the incorporation of linoleic acid in their tissues, their liveweight gain, and their intake of dry matter and energy, were compared with those of nine' steers given a conventional diet. Three steers from each group were slaughtered after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of feeding and the proportion of linoleic acid in samples of muscle and adipose tissue was measured. In addition, two steers were slaughtered prior to the start of the experiment to provide initial values for ,tissue composition. The steers were 9 months old when the experiment began.