Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Postgraduate Student, Department of Animal Science, Excellent Center for Improving sheep Carcass quantity and quality University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor Department of Animal Science, Excellent Center for Improving sheep Carcass quantity and quality University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
3
Professor Department of Animal Science, Excellent Center for Improving sheep Carcass quantity and quality University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, Excellent Center for Improving sheep Carcass quantity and quality University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
5
Graduate Student, Department of Animal Science, Excellent Center for Improving sheep Carcass quantity and quality University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
Abstract
The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of sex and carcass weight on the fatty acid composition in Longissimus dorsi in Zel lambs. Thirty pasture reared lambs (15 males and 15 females) were randomly selected from local flocks. Following slaughtering, the carcasses were assorted into two groups, according to their weights (>15kg and <15kg). Back fat thickness as well as intramuscular fat weighed more in female lambs and as well in lambs of greater than 15 kg carcass weight (p<0.05). Females and heavier lambs (>15kg carcass weight) bore higher a* (redness) than males and than lambs of less weight (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). However, males showed higher b* (yellowness) than female lambs (p<0.05). Cooking loss and shear force in females were recorded as less than those for male lambs (p<0.05). SFA/PUFA ratio was observed to be greater in female lambs and in lambs of more than 15 kg carcass weights (p<0.05). The ratio of n-3: n-6 PUFA in less weighted lambs (<15 kg carcass weight) was lower than that in heavier lambs. Meat from males was of a lower atherogenic Index (AI), as compared with that from female lambs (p<0.05). In total, meats from males and from lambs of lower than 15kg carcass weight were observed to be of more desirable nutritional characteristics and color quality.
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