Farming systems based on high dietary forage
proportions have been shown to increase n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in ruminant fat
compared to conventional farming systems that rely
more on concentrate feeding. Further,
alpine/mountain systems, with high forage
proportions and botanical diversity, have also been
described to increase the n-3 PUFA content in
ruminant fat. In the first part of this book, proper
handling procedures are reported to minimize the
fatty acid losses from forage harvest until
analysis. Comparison between different extraction
solvents is also presented concerning fatty acid
analysis in plant tissues. In the second part of
this book, the fatty acid composition of several
biodiverse forages, both fresh and ensiled and
produced under Dutch and Flemish conditions, are
reported. The effect of feeding these forages on the
fatty acid composition of dairy milk and lamb fat,
and the potential ''origin'' of the oberserved
differences, based on the precursor supply and
changes in the endogenous ruminant fatty acid
metabolism are also described.
proportions have been shown to increase n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in ruminant fat
compared to conventional farming systems that rely
more on concentrate feeding. Further,
alpine/mountain systems, with high forage
proportions and botanical diversity, have also been
described to increase the n-3 PUFA content in
ruminant fat. In the first part of this book, proper
handling procedures are reported to minimize the
fatty acid losses from forage harvest until
analysis. Comparison between different extraction
solvents is also presented concerning fatty acid
analysis in plant tissues. In the second part of
this book, the fatty acid composition of several
biodiverse forages, both fresh and ensiled and
produced under Dutch and Flemish conditions, are
reported. The effect of feeding these forages on the
fatty acid composition of dairy milk and lamb fat,
and the potential ''origin'' of the oberserved
differences, based on the precursor supply and
changes in the endogenous ruminant fatty acid
metabolism are also described.