Four different methods for the methylation of conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) in ruminant lipids were compared by silver ion (Ag+) HPLC. The combination of base-catalyzed methods followed by an acid-catalyzed method with BF3/MeOH was tested under different temperatures (room temperature and at 60 degrees C), along with based-catalyzed methylation with NaOCH3 and methylation with BF3/MeOH after saponification with NaOH. The comparison among these four methods was done on muscle and adipose tissue samples from bulls. The repeatability theta of the combined base- and acid-catalyzed methylation (NaOCH3/BF3) at ambient temperature for 20 min and at 60 degrees C for 10 min was most suitable for the quantitative Ag+-HPLC analysis of CLA isomers. At 60 degrees C the combined methods supplied the highest concentrations of most CLA isomers. The base-catalyzed methylation and the saponification followed by BF3/MeOH methylation for 5 min generated significantly lower concentrations for most CLA isomers compared to the combined methods.