Fattening system influences fatty acid composition in organic Maremmana bullocks

Organic EU Regulation gives preference to indigenous breeds. Maremmana is a very rustic and long-lived Italian cattle breed. Rearing system, quality of the pasture and possible concentrate integrations can influence the quality of meat and its fatty acid composition. Trials were carried out in an organic farm of Grosseto province. We considered the 3 fattening systems: in the feedlot, on pasture, on pasture integrated with concentrate. After the slaughtering, from a sample of Musculus longissimus thoracis, lipids were extracted and acidic composition was determined by chromatography. Results indicated that rustic cattle breeds can be conveniently raised on pasture for the whole fattening period, and demonstrated that grazing can positively influence the quality of the meat fatty acid composition, reducing significantly the Saturated Fatty acids incidence, increasing the Polyunsaturated Fatty acids incidence, and at the same time diminishing the Thrombogenic index and Atherogenic index value.