Free fatty acids and fatty acids of triacylglycerols profiles in muscle and plasma of fed and underfed Boer goats S. van Harten a, *, A.M. Almeida a , Z. Morais b , L.M. Schwalbach c , J.P. Greyling c , H.O. de Waal c , L.A. Cardoso a a IICT-Centro de Veterina ´ria e Zootecnia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterina ´ria, Rua Prof. Cid dos Santos, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal b ISCSS -Instituto Superior de Cie ˆncias da Sau ´de do Sul, Monte Caparica, Portugal c Department of Animal Science, UFS, Bloemfontein, South Africa Received 5 January 2003; received in revised form 15 June 2003; accepted 18 June 2003 Abstract The aim of this study was the determination of muscle and plasma profiles of free fatty acids and of triacylglycerols incorporated fatty acids in fed and underfed Boer goat bucks. This trial with 15 Boer goat bucks weighting 28 Kg had a duration of 30 days during which the 2 distinctive groups of animals were organised (control group—C—fed ad libitum and a restricted group—R—fed 80% of energetic maintenance needs). The content of blood and muscle free fatty acids in the fraction of triacylglycerols was studied. % C16:0 as free fatty acid in the plasma suffered a significant effect of undernutrition (increase) and C18:1 showed a relative decrease in muscle fatty acid incorporated in triacylglycerols in underfed goats. C18:2 revealed a relative increase in muscle fatty acid incorporated in triacylglycerols and a relative decrease in free fatty acid in the plasma in the restricted group. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Free fatty acids; Fatty acids of triacylglycerols; Boer goat bucks; Undernutrition 1. Introduction Seasonal climatic fluctuations in tropical regions induce periodical loss of food resources giving way to weight decreases in livestock of about 20 to 40% [1,2]. The weight loss is due * Corresponding author. Tel.: +351213652800; fax: +351213652869. E-mail address: svharten@yahoo.com (S. van Harten). www.elsevier.com/locate/nutres Nutrition Research 23 (2003) 1447–1452 0271-5317/03/$ – see front matter © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0271-5317(03)00152-0