The Effect of Age, Sex, and Anatomical Location on the Fatty Acid Composition of Pheasant Meat

Abstract

Muscle samples from the breast and thigh of 120-and 150-day-old pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were examined. After extraction, total lipids were separated into phospholipids, triglycerides, and free fatty acids, after which the methyl esters were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography.Analysis of the data obtained confirmed the presence of a substantial unsaturated fat level in each of the three lipid fractions. The percentage of phospholipid was always higher in males than females and decreased with age in both sexes. Age was associated with more significant variations in lipid composition in males than females. This was particularly true of triglycerides. The sex-associated variations in lipid composition may be associated with hormone changes that may influence enzymatic systems; however, the cellular mechanisms for this relationship are not yet completely clear.With increasing age, the number of significant differences between sexes increased, especially for depot lipids (triglycerides) rather than for structural lipids (phospholipids) or free fatty acids. Examination of the age X anatomical location interaction showed that age was associated with significant differences in the muscle lipid composition of different anatomical locations. Again, this was more evident in triglycerides than in phospholipids or free fatty acids. Finally, study of the sex X anatomical location interaction showed that sex has less influence on the lipid composition of the anatomical locations considered. Here too, triglycerides were more affected than phospholipids or free fatty acids.