Fat quality is largely defined in terms of physical and nutritive characteristics, aspects which are both
closely related to the fatty acid composition of the fat depots. In the pig, many of the fatty acids in the diet
are absorbed across the gut intact and are deposited directly into the fat. Thus, the composition of the fat
depots, in terms of fatty acid profile, is closely related to the fatty acid composition of the dietary fat. If
pigs are fed a diet with no added fats or oils they synthesize and deposit saturated fatty acids (principally
palmitic and stearic) and mono-unsaturated oleic acid (Metz and Dekker, 1981). Deposition of polyunsaturated
fatty acids (principally C18:2 and C18:3) occurs only if they are included in the diet.