Lamb Meat Quality and Carcass Evaluation of Five Autochthonous Sheep Breeds: Towards Biodiversity Protection.

ABSTRACT: In the present study, the evaluation of the carcasses and meat quality, in terms of chemical composition and fatty acid profile, of lambs from five autochthonous sheep breeds (Altamurana, Bagnolese, Gentile di Puglia, Laticauda, and Leccese) reared in continental Southern Italy, were studied. All the carcasses were evaluated according to the EU Mediterranean classification system for carcasses weighing less than 13 kg. Meat chemical composition and fatty acids profile were assessed on both loin and leg commercial cuts. Fatty acid composition of loin resulted in differences among breeds, displaying lower values of saturated fatty acid in Altamurana, Bagnolese, and Leccese breeds and the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acid in the Altamurana breed. Principal component analysis group

SUBMITTER: Ciliberti MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8614373 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature