For PUFA content, our results
are in accordance with those reported by González-Martín, González-
Pérez, Alvarez-García, and Gonzalez-Cabrera (2005) in pork, and Sierra
et al. (2008) and Prieto et al. (2011) in beef. However, González-
Martín et al. (2003) and Pla et al. (2007) reported better predictions in
pork and rabbit meat, respectively, than those obtained in this study,
possibly because of the greater range in PUFA content in these species.
Within the minor groups, branched fatty acids (BCFAs) were accurately
predicted (R2 = 0.92, RMSECV = 0.05 mg · g−1 muscle, RPD =
3.02). In spite of their low presence in meat, the CV was high (30%).
Sierra et al. (2008) also predicted BCFAs in beef, although their NIRS
predictability was at a lower level than that found in the current study.
On the contrary, total omega-3 FAs (n − 3 FAs) were not reliably
predicted as indicated by the low R2 and RPD and high RMSECV obtained