Influence of dietary fat source on the body fat composition of mink (Mustela vison) and blue fox (Alopex lagopus).
1989
Rouvinen K. | Kiiskinen T.
The influence of dietary fat source on the fatty acid composition of mink and blue fox fat in different parts of the body was studied. In addition, seasonal changes in the fatty acid composition of the skin and subcutaneous fat were determined. The dietary fat sources used in the experiments were beef tallow, mink fat, capelin oil, soybean oil and rapeseed oil. The fat level supplied by the diets was 20% in the dry matter of feed. Skin and subcutaneous fat samples were taken in August and November. Body fat samples were collected from the groin, around the kidneys and from the liver in November. Raw skin samples were taken after skin grading in January. The fatty acid compositions of the fat samples studied all markedly reflected the fatty acid profile of the respective dietary fat source. Blue fox fat was found to be more saturated than the fat of minks fed the same diet. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the skin and subcutaneous fat increased towards winter. This increase was more notable in the mink, whose thermophysiological properties are less efficient compared to the blue fox. The degree of saturation of the body fats in all experimental groups increased from the body surface towards deeper fat depots. The content of omega-3 fatty acids in blue fox liver was three times higher than in mink liver. Oxidation of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids in the liver of the blue fox may function insufficiently compared to mink liver.
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