From clinical studies, the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) seems to be beneficial for human health. Milk and meat of ruminants are the major sources of CLA in foods. The aim of the present study was to investigate the deposition of CLA in tissues, and alterations in performance, meat quality and tissue fatty acids (FA) profile in veal calves fed diets supplemented with CLA. In the experiment, any significant effect of CLA supplement on growth, intake of starter, feed conversion, chemical composition of meat and its oxidative stability were not detected. On the contrary, a higher dietary supplementation of CLA significantly increased CLA content in m. longissimus dorsi (MLD), in liver and in perirenal fat, but decreased the ratio of some CLA isomers in tissues, concentration of monounsaturated FA in MLD and fat and the concentration of C10 and C20 FA. In veal calves, unprotected CLA escaped ruminal hydrogenation, but it was preferentially incorporated into depot fat.