Influence of pasture or total mixed ration on fatty acid composition and expression of lipogenic genes of longissimus thoracis and subcutaneous adipose tissues in Albas White Cashmere Goats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate pasture or total mixed ration (TMR) feeding of adult and kid Albas White Cashmere Goats (AWCG), considering the FA profiles and lipogenic gene expressions in the longissimus thoracis (LT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). In the first trial, 60 adult female goats from Inner Mongolia White Cashmere Goat Breeding Farm were used. In the second trial, 60 AWCG castrated male kid goats from Inner Mongolia White Cashmere Goat Breeding Farm were used. FA was determined with gas chromatography, and gene expressions were analysed using qRT-PCR. In the first trial, the levels of C16:0, C18:0, C18:2n6c, ω-6/ω-3PUFA, ACC, FAS, SCD, SREBP-1c and C/EBPα were significantly higher, but the levels of C18:3n3, C20:5n3, C22:6n3, ω-3PUFA, PUFA and P/S as well as the genes expression of LPL, HSL and PPARγ were significantly lower in LT muscle and SAT from TMR-fed adult goats compared to pasture-fed adult goats. In the second trial, the TMR-fed kid goats had higher levels of C17:0, C18:0, C18:2n6c, MUFA, ω-6/ω-3, ACC, FAS, SCD and C/EBPα in LT muscle and SAT, but had lower levels of C18:3n3, C20:5n3, C22:6n3, ω-3PUFA, LPL, HSL and PPARγ than the pasture-fed kids. In addition, TMR feeding increased final body weight and average daily gain of adult female goats and kid goats.