Differences in the trans-18:1 profile of the backfat of feedlot steers fed wheat or corn based dried distillers’ grains

Backfat composition was compared in steers fed either a control (barley grain based) diet or diets containing increasing levels of corn or wheat derived dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS; 20 g or 40 g/100 g of total mixed ration on a dry mater basis). Backfat total saturated fatty acids, other c,t-/c,c-/t,t-dienes, and conjugated linoleic acids, were unaffected by feeding DDGS. Monounsaturated fatty acids were higher in control steers while polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher in backfat from DDGS fed steers. Overall, backfat from control and wheat derived DDGS fed steers had lower levels of trans-18:1 and consequently lower levels of individual trans-18:1 isomers and a higher 11t-/10t-ratio compared to backfat from corn derived DDGS fed steers. This indicates that beef from cattle fed wheat derived DDGS had a fatty acid profile more favourable to human health than cattle fed corn DDGS.