Fatty acids in intramuscular fat of Ile de France lambs in two different production systems

Feeding regimens affecting carcass and quality attributes of sheep and goat meat - A comprehensive review

Sheep and goats can efficiently convert low quality forage into high-quality meat which contains specific nutrients and quality traits. Carcass traits and quality attributes of sheep and goat meat depend upon several factors and one of most effective strategies amongst these is feeding regimens. In this review, the major aspects of feeding regimens affecting growth rate, carcass traits and quality attributes of sheep and goat meat are thoroughly discussed, with a particular focus on physical-chemical composition, flavor profile, and fatty acid (FA) profile. Grazing lambs and kids receiving concentrate or under stall-feeding systems had greater average daily gain and carcass yield compared with animals reared on pasture only. However, growth rate was higher in lambs/kids grazing on pastures of improved quality. Moreover, the meat of grazing lambs receiving concentrate had more intense flavor, intramuscular fat (IMF) content, and unhealthy FA composition, but comparable color, tenderness, juiciness, and protein content compared to that of lambs grazed on grass only. In contrast, meat of concentrate-fed lambs had more intense color, greater tenderness and juiciness, IMF and protein contents, and lower flavor linked to meat. Additionally, the meat of kids grazed on concentrate supplementation had higher color coordinates, tenderness, IMF content and unhealthy FA composition, whereas juiciness and flavor protein content were similar. In contrast, kids with concentrate supplementation had superior color coordinates, juiciness, IMF content and unhealthy FA composition, but lower tenderness and flavor intensity compared to pasture-grazed kids. Thus, indoor-finished or supplemented grazing sheep/goats had higher growth rate and carcass quality, higher IMF content and unhealthy FA composition compared to animals grazed on grass only. Finally, supplementation with concentrate increased flavor intensity in lamb meat, and improved color and tenderness in kid meat, whereas indoor-fed sheep/goats had improved color and juiciness as well as reduced flavor compared to pasture-grazed animals.

Review of Feeding Systems Affecting Production, Carcass Attributes, and Meat Quality of Ovine and Caprine Species

Growth rate, carcass attributes, and meat quality traits of small ruminants (i.e., sheep and goats) depend on various factors, among which the feeding system is one of the most important factors. However, how feeding systems affect these parameters differ between sheep and goats. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the differences in how different feeding systems affect the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of sheep and goats. It also explored the effects of a new finishing strategy-time-limited grazing with supplements on these traits. Compared with stalled feeding, finishing lambs/kids on pasture-only feed reduced the average daily gain (ADG) and carcass yield, while supplemented-grazing lambs/kids had near-equivalent or higher ADG and carcass attributes. Pasture-grazing increased the meat flavor intensity and healthy fatty acid content (HFAC) of lamb/kid meat. Supplemental grazing lambs had comparable or superior meat sensory attributes and increased meat protein and HFAC compared to stall-fed ones. In contrast, supplemental grazing only improved the meat color of kids but had little effect on other meat qualities. Moreover, time-limited grazing with supplemental concentrates increased the carcass yield and meat quality in lamb meat. Overall, the effects of different feeding systems on growth performance and carcass traits were comparable between sheep and goats but differed in terms of the meat quality.

The Effect of Diets Containing High-Moisture Corn or Triticale Grain on Animal Performance and the Fatty Acid Composition of Lamb Muscles

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets with different inclusion levels of high-moisture corn (HMC) and triticale grain (TG) on nutrient digestibility and utilization, the growth performance of lambs, and the fatty acid profile of the leg muscle. The experiment was performed on 24 young rams, divided into four groups based on grain type and inclusion rate (50% or 75% DM). The higher inclusion rate of cereal grain and a lower concentration of crude fiber (CF) in the feed ration decreased CF digestibility by 26% and 35% in diets containing HMC and TG, respectively. Diets containing HMC increased crude fat digestibility relative to animals receiving TG. Final body weight and average daily gain were highest in lambs fed a diet containing 50% HMC. Grain type had no effect on nitrogen (N) retention or the proportions of SFA and UFA in lamb meat. Diets containing HMC decreased total cholesterol levels in the leg muscle. HMC can be a valuable component of diets for growing lambs when included at up to 50% of the ration. An increase in the dietary inclusion rate of cereal grain to 75% can be recommended only in the case of TG.

Research progress on mutton origin tracing and authenticity

With the globalization of the food market and the convenience of food transportation between countries, consumers are increasingly worried about the source and safety of the food they eat. Traceability has been identified as an important tool for ensuring food safety and quality. This review mainly introduces the principles of five food traceability technologies, summarizes the progress in mutton application, comprehensively compares and analyzes the five traceability technologies, and discusses their application prospects, advantages and disadvantages. It is aimed at promoting research and application of traceability technology in mutton safety, promoting establishment and improvement of food traceability system.

Effect of Rearing Season on Meat and Intramuscular Fat Quality of Beni-Guil Sheep

Twenty Beni-Guil-PGI female lambs were used to study the effects of rearing season on meat quality characteristics, fatty acids profile, and lipid content. The animals were reared according to the pastoral-transhumant system in the eastern region of Morocco. The treatments consisted of 10 female lambs reared in summer-autumn (SA) and slaughtered at winter season and 10 female lambs reared in winter-spring (WS) and slaughtered at spring season. After the slaughter, the longissimus lumborum was collected for each animal for meat quality analysis. Compared to lambs reared in SA, the meat from the WS group showed higher ( $p<0.01$ ) pH, chroma, and lightness values (5.79 vs. 5.72, 23.97 vs. 18.46, and 47.03 vs. 41.04, respectively). On the other hand, the meat from WS presented higher ( $p<0.05$ ) intramuscular fat content (5.14 % vs. 3.82%, respectively). However, the intramuscular fat of the lambs reared in SA was characterized by greater ( $p<0.01$ ) PUFA percentage (16.82% vs. 12.40%, respectively), thrombogenic ( $p<0.001$ ) and atherogenic index ( $p<0.001$ ), and PUFA/SFA ratio ( $p<0.01$ ; 0.42 vs. 0.25, respectively). Nevertheless, those reared in WS season have a higher ( $p<0.001$ ) PUFA n − 3 (2.58% vs. 1.14%, respectively) content, and therefore favorable ( $p<0.001$ ) n − 6/n − 3 ratio (3.78 vs. 12.98, respectively).

Fatty acids, health lipid indices, and cholesterol content of sheep meat of three breeds from Moroccan pastures

The lipid analysis of commercial lamb's meat, from two main Moroccan production areas Middle Atlas and highlands of eastern Morocco, was conducted. This study concerns the lipid quality of sheep meat from Beni Guil (BG) and Timahdite (Ti) as indigenous breeds and that of the Ouled Djellal (ODj) breed of Algerian origin. To study the effect of the geographical area, the meat samples from the Beni Guil breed were taken in the two main locations of this breed: in the region of Ain Beni Mathar (BGA) and that of Tendrara (BGT). The fatty acid profiles of the sheep meats analyzed showed the following: (i) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) richness was of 12.87 % and 20.59 % respectively for BGA and BGT breeds; (ii) polyunsaturated  /  saturated fatty acid ratios were ranged between 0.28 to 0.50 respectively for BGA and Ti breed; and (iii) PUFA- n - 3 content was 1.71 % for ODj breed and 2.13 % for BGA. Thus, the PUFA- n - 6   /  PUFA n - 3 ratios range between 4.92 and 9.6 for BGA and Ti sheep meat, respectively. The cholesterol content was 0.08 % and 0.12 % of fresh meat respectively for ODj and BGA. Finally, meats of BGA and ODj have similar thrombogenicity (1.23 and 1.27 respectively) and atherogenicity indices (0.71 and 0.68 respectively). Statistically, these values were significantly higher than those registered for Ti breed (IT: 1.04 and AI: 0.51). In conclusion, from a nutritional point of view, it can be deduced that these meats have an interesting lipid quality due to their richness in desirable fatty acid (UFA  +  C18 : 0).