NIR spectroscopy was successfully employed to predict the chemical
composition of meat from steers fed sunflower or flaxseed, although the
prediction ability for meat quality attributes was limited, probably
because of collecting NIR spectra on ground samples and the time elapsed
between the reference methods and NIRS analyses. NIRS prediction
was accurate for SFA, MUFA (total, cis- and trans-MUFA), BCFA and
CLA (total and cis,trans-CLA) contents, but not reliable for PUFAs and
omega-3 although better predictions might be found in other species
with a greater range of these FAs. This technology might be suitable
for discrimination purposes in beef based on the content of fatty acids
beneficial to human health such as rumenic and vaccenic acids. Further
research applying NIRS to estimate meat chemical composition, quality
traits and fatty acid composition in beef would logically be with intact
meat, either using benchtop equipment on excised samples or, ideally,
with portable equipment directly on the carcass. The latter, if successful,
would also have evident advantages regarding the possible speed of the
analyses.