Recommendation to reduce fat consumption from ruminant meat does not consider the contribution of nutritionally
beneficial fatty acids in lean beef. Here we report effects of production system (organic vs conventional)
and finishing season on meat and fat quality of sirloin steaks from retail outlets and simulated fatty acid intakes
by consumers. There was little difference in meat quality (pH, shear force and colour), but the fat profiles varied
considerably between production systems and season. Meat fat from organic and summer finished cattle
contained higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid, its precursor vaccenic acid and individual omega-3
fatty acids and had a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids compared with non-organic and winter
finished cattle respectively. The fat profile from summer finished organic beef aligns better to recommended
dietary guideline including those for long chain omega-3 fatty acids compared with that from winter finished,
non-organic steak.