Work

Fatty acid, tocopherol and carotenoid content of botanically diverse pastures rotationally grazed by ruminant livestock in Ireland

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Pasture samples from (i) perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne , L.; (PRG), (ii) PRG + white clover ( Trifolium repens , L. (WC); PRG + WC) and (iii) multi-species (MS; PRG, timothy ( Phleum pratense L.), WC, red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.), chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain ( Plantago lanceolata L.) pastures were collected from rotationally grazed paddocks throughout 2021. Higher levels of the fatty acids (FA) C16:0, C18:2 n -6c and C18:3 n -3 c occurred in late-season for all pastures. C18:2 n -6 c contents were higher in MS pasture compared to PRG and PRG + WC pastures for all seasons, whereas C18:3 n -3 c contents were higher in PRG pasture than PRG + WC and MS pasture in mid- and late-seasons. Higher levels of tocopherols and carotenoids were observed in late-season for all pastures. Although α -tocopherol concentrations were similar between pastures, γ -tocopherol and lutein concentrations were higher in MS pasture. In conclusion, MS pastures can produce equivalent FA concentrations, along with increased γ -tocopherol and lutein concentrations compared to PRG pastures.

Source: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102050