Effects of adding dietary soluble sugar and calcium salts of fish oil on growth ‎performance and profile of meat fatty acids of Holstein steers

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of including sucrose, with or without calcium salts of fish oil on performance, carcase characteristics and meat fatty acids profile of fattening Holstein steers. Thirty sixth Holstein steers (269±57 kg body weight) were used in a completely randomized design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement during 128 days of experimental period. Dietary treatments were 1) control, 2) sucrose (SU) (5% DM), 3) calcium salts of fish oil (CF) (2.5% DM), 4) SU and CF. Average daily gain increased with added SU (P>0.01). An interaction between SU and Ca-FO was found on dry matter intake (DMI) (P<0.05) and dry matter content of longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) (P<0.05). Dietary inclusion of Ca-FO increased the concentration of vaccinec acid and CLA in longissimus dorsi (P=0.03). Total PUFA n-3 increased in longissimus dorsi and subsequently decreased n-6: n-3 ratio and increases intramuscular storage of EPA & DHA fatty acids (P=0.01). The results of this study showed addition SU and Ca-FO could have stimulatory effect on dry matter intake and avrage daily gain in fattening steers. Also Ca-FO increased concentration of n-3 fatty acids, vaccinec and CLA acids which means improving meat quality and nutritional valus.