This study tested the ability of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict meat chemical composition,
quality traits and fatty acid (FA) composition from 63 steers fed sunflower or flaxseed in combination with
high forage diets. NIRS calibrations, tested by cross-validation,were successful for predicting crude protein,moisture
and fat contentwith coefficients of determination (R2) (RMSECV, g · 100g−1wetmatter) of 0.85 (0.48), 0.90
(0.60) and 0.86 (1.08), respectively, but were not reliable for meat quality attributes. This technology accurately
predicted saturated, monounsaturated and branched FA and conjugated linoleic acid content (R2: 0.83–0.97;
RMSECV: 0.04–1.15 mg · g−1 tissue) and might be suitable for screening purposes inmeat based on the content
of FAs beneficial to human health such as rumenic and vaccenic acids. Further research applying NIRS to estimate
meat quality attributes will require the use on-line of a fibre-optic probe on intact samples