Effects of canola and soya lecithins compared with canola oil and seed on performance, carcass quality and body fat composition of growing bulls

Fattening bulls (six per treatment) were fed rations supplemented either with raw or modified (deoiled and deoiled/partially hydrolyzed) canola lecithins or deoiled soya lecithin at 30 g/kg DM on a fatty acid basis. These were also compared with rations supplemented with canola oil or crushed canola seed. No differences occurred in liveweight gain, feed conversion efficiency or carcass traits. The elevated proportions of odd-chain fatty acids found in the body fats indicate that lecithins might affect rumen fermentation less than oils. Trends in rumen fluid ammonia concentration suggest a reduced ruminal protein degradation with lecithins. Polyenoic fatty acids were highest with canola oil in kidney fat and intermuscular fat. The fatty acid profile of body fat depended more on the origin of lecithin (canola vs soyabean) than on the exchange of oil or technological lecithin modifications. Consequently, canola lecithins can replace canola oil without greater effects on growth and carcass yield and only minor variation in carcass fat composition.