Quality and fatty acid content of borage (Borago officinalis L.) during the growth cycle.

The chemical composition, nutritive value and fatty acid composition of borage (Borago officinalis L.) were determined. Plants were collected in the Western Po Valley near Cuneo - Italy, at five progressive morphological stages from late vegetative to early seed stage. The evolution of the quality of borage is closely related to the ageing of the plant, with a progressive increase in the fibrous fractions and N-free extracts and a slight decrease in crude protein content and organic matter digestibility, while the estimated metabolisable and net energy for lactation are steady throughout the growth cycle. The fatty acid components of borage during the growth cycle are myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic acids, and four polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): linoleic (LA), ±-linolenic (ALA), ³-linolenic (GLA), and stearidonic (SDA). The n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio increases from 0.43, at late vegetative stage, to 1.59 at early seed stage, as the relative GLA and LA content increases during the growth cycle, while the SDA and ALA content decreases.