Performance, carcass quality and fatty acid profile of crossbred brahman beef steers receiving palm or rice bran oil

Twelve crossbred Brahman steers were randomly stratified into 3 treatment groups to determine the effect of palm or rice bran oil supplementation on the performance and fatty acid profile in beef. The steers averaged 300±38 kg live weight and 18±3 months old. All steers were fed 6 kg/d of 12% crude protein concentrate with ad libitum rice straw. The treatments were 1) control concentrate, 2) control concentrate plus 200 g/d of palm oil (PO), and 3) control concentrate plus 200 g/d of rice bran oil (RO). The study demonstrated that supplementation of PO or RO did not influence carcass and muscle characteristics or sensory and physical properties. However, PO and RO significantly increased net energy intake, C16:0, C18:1n-9, monounsaturated fatty acids, and total fatty acid intakes. Beef marbling scores also increased significantly by PO or RO supplementation. The C18:2n-6, trans10, cis12 C18:2 CLA, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in cattle on RO than PO