The effects of rearing diet, sex and age on the fatty acid profile of Chios lambs

Abstract

A total of 40 lambs of Chios breed were used to determine the effect of rearing system, sex and age on the fatty acid (FA) profile of M. semimembranosus proprius (SP), M. longissimus dorsii (LD) and M. triceps brachii (TB). The lambs were assigned into two groups balanced for bodyweight and sex. The first group (n = 20) underwent natural rearing (natural) and received only maternal milk until weaning. The second group (n = 20) weaned at birth and subjected to artificial suckling (artificial) with a commercial milk replacer. At 35 days of age, 10 animals from each group were weighed and slaughtered. The remaining lambs of both groups, after weaning were fed daily 100 g barley hay per animal and a commercial concentrate diet ad libitum up to 90 days of age, where they were also weighed and slaughtered. The results showed that the FA profile of lamb muscles was related with that of suckled milk (natural or artificial). Sex did not affect the FA profile, whereas the increase in the slaughtered age lead to changes in the FA profile of lamb muscles (SP, LD, TB). In conclusion, both rearing system and age change the FA profile of lamb muscles, but not in the same manner in all of them (SP, LD, TB).