Effect of diets containing w3 fatty acids on productive performances and meat quality of"Murgese" foals

Eight male Murgese foals, weaned at the age of 6 months and subdivided into 2 groups of 4 animals, homogeneus for age and live weight, were used to investigate the effects of diets containing 0)3 fatty acids on some quantitative and qualitative traits of horse meat. The foals, from weaning to slaughtering, were fed ad libitum hay from meadow pasture and concentrate at 30 and 70% respectively, until the dry matter intake was 2.3-3% per 100 kg live weight. In particular, the first group (controI) received concentrate without 0)3 fatty acids; the second group received a supplementary feed containing fish and flax plus ozi wl at 1.5%. The research demonstrated that enriching diets with 0)3 polyunsatured fatty acids the quantity of ashes and phospholipids of the meat improved, the free cholesterol concentrations were reduced, without modif)ring the productive performances of the foals. The supplementary feed containing plus oil wl significantiy modifìed the acidic profile of intramuscolar fat, increasing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and reducing the ratio 0)6/0)3. Moreover, advantageous ratios S/P (saturated/polyunsatured) and PCLlPCE (plasma cholesterol lowering/plasma cholesterol elevating) were observed, and the thrombogenicity index was like the one suggested by the Human Society of Nutrition. The use of polyunsatured fatty acids in horse feeding favours the production of quality meat with good (excellent) dietar)' characteristics.