Fatty Acid Profile in Liver Tissue From Cattle Raised in Different Systems in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Bovine liver is a food that is known to be nutritious and easily accessible to consumers. The nutritional quality of this food can be influenced by several factors, such as the rearing system. The objective of this study was to characterize the fatty acid profile in the liver tissue of cattle raised in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon, taking into account the effect of the rearing system and seasonality. Liver tissue samples from cattle raised in native pastures, in flooded areas, in cultivated pastures, in highlands and in a confinement, system was evaluated. The liver tissue from the extensive systems showed (p < 0.05) a higher proportion of saturated fatty acids (C16:0 and 17:0) and a higher proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids compared with the confinement liver tissue. The sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher for the hepatic tissue of the feedlot system compared with the pasture system; however, the tissue of animals from the pasture system showed much higher percentages of long-chain PUFA's such as EPA, DHA, DPA, and their precursor, alpha-linolenic acid. The information gathered is important for optimizing the production of beef and its offal with desirable nutritional properties for promoting human health.