Comparison of the Fatty Acid Composition of the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle of Kids, Lambs and Calves Produced under Iranian Transhumant Production System

Transhumant production system (TPS) is a type of extensive livestock production practiced by transhumant pastoralists in which indigenous livestock breeds are mainly fed a pasture-based diet. The hypothesis tested in this work was whether differences existed between fat samples from the different species in respect to ratios of n-6/n-3, and polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids. To test our hypothesis, fatty acids (FAs) composition of the longissimus dorsi muscle of kids (n=10), fat-tailed lambs (n=10), and calves (n=10) produced in a pasture-based system were determined. All animals were indigenous intact male and randomly selected from nomads in the Zagros mountains (Noorabad, Lorestan province). The live body weight of kids, lambs and calves were 21 ± 6, 27 ± 4, and 158 ± 35 kg respectively. Meat samples were analyzed either without (lean meat) or mixed with 30% of sirloin subcutaneous fat (fat meat). Results showed that saturated FAs (as percentage) in kids meat was lower than those in lambs and calves (41.4 vs. 46.2 and 47.4% P=0.02). Kid meat had higher α-linolenic (C18:3 n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5 n-3), but lower undesirable FAs (C16:0+C14:0) and n-6/n-3 ratio in comparison with lambs and calves. In conclusion, goat meat produced under TPS conditions, compared with lambs and calves, showed more promising healthy source of FAs for human nutrition.