TY - JOUR
T1 - Fatty acid composition of the ovine longissimus dorsi muscle
T2 - Effect of feed restriction in three breeds of different origin
AU - Van Harten, Sofia
AU - Kilminster, Tanya
AU - Scanlon, Timothy
AU - Milton, John
AU - Oldham, Chris
AU - Greeff, Johann
AU - Almeida, André M.
PY - 2016/3/30
Y1 - 2016/3/30
N2 - BACKGROUND: Muscle fatty acid profile reflects the body condition of animals and has a noticeable effect on meat quality. Herein, longissimus dorsi muscle of three different sheep breeds, Damara (a fat-tailed breed), Dorper and Australian Merino sheep, was analysed for fatty acid composition. The three breeds were subjected to two distinctive feeding levels (ad libitum and restricted feeding) over 42 days. RESULTS: The Damara sheep revealed several differences compared to the other two breeds, namely a higher concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can be related to being a fat-tailed breed. Even in restricted feeding conditions, this breed revealed the highest levels compared to Merino and Dorper sheep respectively, of linoleic acid (+31% and +28%), linolenic acid (+97% and +51%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (+65% and +37%), docosapentanenoic acid (DPA) (+31% Merino) and dodosahexanenoic acid (DHA) (+63% and +77%). EPA, DPA and DHA are three omega-3 fatty acids, with described beneficial characteristics. CONCLUSION: With this work we show other qualities (higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, DPA and DHA) of Damara meat that might present this breed as an interesting alternative for animal production in semi-arid climates.
AB - BACKGROUND: Muscle fatty acid profile reflects the body condition of animals and has a noticeable effect on meat quality. Herein, longissimus dorsi muscle of three different sheep breeds, Damara (a fat-tailed breed), Dorper and Australian Merino sheep, was analysed for fatty acid composition. The three breeds were subjected to two distinctive feeding levels (ad libitum and restricted feeding) over 42 days. RESULTS: The Damara sheep revealed several differences compared to the other two breeds, namely a higher concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can be related to being a fat-tailed breed. Even in restricted feeding conditions, this breed revealed the highest levels compared to Merino and Dorper sheep respectively, of linoleic acid (+31% and +28%), linolenic acid (+97% and +51%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (+65% and +37%), docosapentanenoic acid (DPA) (+31% Merino) and dodosahexanenoic acid (DHA) (+63% and +77%). EPA, DPA and DHA are three omega-3 fatty acids, with described beneficial characteristics. CONCLUSION: With this work we show other qualities (higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, DPA and DHA) of Damara meat that might present this breed as an interesting alternative for animal production in semi-arid climates.
KW - Muscle fatty acids
KW - Restricted feeding
KW - Sheep breeds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959487792&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jsfa.7285
DO - 10.1002/jsfa.7285
M3 - Article
C2 - 26037039
AN - SCOPUS:84959487792
VL - 96
SP - 1777
EP - 1782
JO - Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
JF - Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
SN - 0022-5142
IS - 5
ER -