Angela Cividini

Fatty acid composition of lamb meat from the autochthonous Jezersko-Solčava breed reared in different production systems.

Thirty two autochthonous Jezersko-Solčava lambs were used to investigate the effect of production (pasture vs. stable) and weaning system (suckling vs. weaned) on fatty acid composition of Longissimus dorsi intramuscular fat in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Pasture lambs had lower intramuscular fat concentration (P<0.0001) more PUFA and trans C18:1, more ALA (P=0.0322), ARA (<0.0001) and EPA (0.0149) but less SFA (P<0.0001) than stable lambs. Weaning system affected PUFA (P=0.0040) and MUFA (P=0.0070) but not SFA and trans C18:1 fatty acids. The interaction of production system and weaning system was significant mainly for trans C18:1 and trans C18:2 fatty acids. Finally, lamb meat from all four treatments which are traditionally used in rearing of Jezersko-Solčava lambs are favourable from the nutritive point of view, due to their low n-6/n-3 ratio.

Fatty acid composition and sensory analysis in Boer kids meat

Abstract. This study was undertaken to characterize the fatty acid profile and sensory properties of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of Boer kids as affected by sex (17 male, 15 female) and slaughter weight (pre-weaned 20 kg, post-weaned 30 kg). Regarding sex differences, higher percentage amounts of lauric, myristic, pentadecanoic, linolenic and docosapentaenoic acids were found in LD muscle of male compared to female kids, whereas greater amounts of oleic acid were detected in LD muscle of female kids. Also, LD of male kids contained higher percentage amounts of saturated (SFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) while higher amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were detected in LD of female kids. Regarding slaughter weight, percentage amounts of lauric, myristic, margaric, pentadecanoic, linolenic, linoleic, arachidonic and docosapentaenoic acids significantly decreased with age (P≤0.001), while percentage amounts of heptadecenoic and oleic acids significantly increased (P≤0.001). LD muscle from lighter kids contained higher percentage amounts of SFA and PUFA, while heavier kids had higher percentage amounts of MUFA and n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio. Except meat colour, sensory traits (marbling, off-odour, flavour, juiciness and tenderness) were neither significantly affected by sex nor slaughter age.

The crossbreeding of improved Jezersko-Solcˇava sheep with Charollais to improve carcass traits

Abstract Thirteen improved Jezersko-Solčava lambs (JSR) and 16 crossbreds with Charollais (JSRxCH) were used to evaluate the effect of genotype and sex on carcass traits. Lambs were weaned at around 60 days of age. They were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum and slaughtered at 30 kg of average live weight at 103 days of age. Crossbred lambs had at the same live weight at slaughter better conformation (9.19 on 15 points scale) than JSR lambs (7.58). Carcasses of crossbred lambs had lower proportion of fat in hind leg and lower proportion of kidney fat. Female lambs had better dressing proportion (46.25%) than male lambs (42.72%). Females had also higher scores for both internal and subcutaneous fatness and higher percentage of kidney fat. They had higher proportion of fat and lower proportion of bone in hind leg.

The effect of sex and age at slaughter on some carcass and meat quality traits of Boer kids

This study investigated some carcass and meat quality traits of Boer kids (17 male and 17 female) at two different average slaughter ages (83 and 139 days). Jointed cuts of half carcasses arranged from the greatest to the smallest were: hind leg (28.5%), rib and flank (21.2%), shoulder (19.3%), back (8.5%), loin (7.9%), neck (7.6%) and chuck (3.4%). Male kids had significantly higher percentage of the neck cuts (p≤0.001) while females had significantly higher percentage of rib and flank cuts (p≤0.05). At higher slaughter ages neck (p≤0.05) and chuck (p≤0.001) percentages significantly decreased and rib and flank (p≤0.001) percentage significantly increased. On average, hind leg had 72.2 % of muscle, 8.6 % of fat and 18.8 % of bone. Female kids had higher muscle and lower bone hind leg content than males (p≤0.01). Hind leg bone content significantly decreased at higher slaughter age (p≤0.01). Meat from male kids displayed significantly higher cie L*(p≤0.001) and b*(p≤0.05) values than females. At higher slaughter age L* values significantly decreased (p≤0.01) while a* and b* values significantly increased (p≤0.001; p≤0.01).

Carcass and lamb meat quality from improved Jezersko-Solčava flocks in Slovenia

Forty lambs (progeny of two different genotype sires and Jezersko-Solcava ewes) were used to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight, genotype and sex on non-carcass components, carcass characteristics, carcass cuts and meat quality of Longissimus dorsi. Twenty-eight lambs were progeny by improved Jezersko-Solcava (JSR) sire (JSR lambs) and twelve were progeny by Texel (T) sire (JSRT lambs). After 10 days of age lambs were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum. Lambs remained indoors with their dams until weaning at 60 days of age. Lambs were divided into three groups according to genotype/sire and slaughter weight. JSR lambs were divided into JSR-light group (6 males and 6 females) and JSR-heavy group (6 males and 10 females). All Texel sired lambs representing the third group of JSRT lambs (6 males and 6 females). JSR-light group was slaughtered at the average 29.5 kg of live weight, JSR-heavy group and JSRT group were slaughtered at the adjusted 44 kg of live weight. Slaughter weight had effect on all non-carcass components presenting JSR-heavy the highest percentage. JSR-heavy carcasses had higher carcass fatness and were longer and wider in shoulder and hindleg. Slaughter weight affected carcass cuts, having the JSR-heavy lower percentage of shoulder and hindleg, but higher percentage of rib with flank. JSR-heavy carcasses had redder meat than JSR-light. When comparing JSRT and JSR-heavy lambs, JSRT had lower percentage of liver and lungs and higher percentage of head and pelt. JSRT carcasses had lower fatness, better conformation score and better dressing proportion than JSR- heavy. The composition of hindleg showed that JSRT carcasses had higher percentage of muscle and lower percentage of bone in hindleg than JSR-heavy carcasses. Meat quality differ only in b* value with more yellow meat in JSRT than JSR-heavy. Sex had effect on liver, heart and head with higher percentages in males. Males had lower dressing percentage, lower carcass fatness and higher percentages of neck, chuck and shoulder and had lighter meat. It was concluded that progeny by Texel sire had better carcass characteristics especially dressing percentage, carcass fatness and carcass conformation. Slaughtering JSR lambs at 44 kg of live weight have as a result longer and wider carcasses with slightly higher carcass fatness score, greater muscle and lower bone percentage in hindleg than JSR lambs slaughtered at 29.5 kg of live weight.