Fatty acid composition of M-longissimus lumborum, ultimate muscle pH values and carcass parameters in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L) grazed on natural pasture or fed a commercial feed mixture
E. Wiklund et al., Fatty acid composition of M-longissimus lumborum, ultimate muscle pH values and carcass parameters in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L) grazed on natural pasture or fed a commercial feed mixture, MEAT SCI, 58(3), 2001, pp. 293-298
The effects of feeding regimen on the fatty acid composition of M. longissi
mus, ultimate pH values in three muscles (Mm. longissimus, triceps brachii
and biceps femoris) and carcass quality were studied in15 reindeer bulls. N
ine animals came from natural pasture and six had been fed a pelleted comme
rcial feed mixture for two months prior to slaughter. The pellet fed reinde
er had significantly better carcass grading scores (EUROP conformation), hi
gher trim fat content, more intramuscular fat and lower ultimate pH values
in all three muscles than the group from pasture. The polar and neutral lip
id fatty acid composition of the meat was analysed separately. Meat from pa
sture fed reindeer showed a high content of the fatty acid 18:3 n-3 in the
polar lipid fraction. In the same lipid fraction, the Fatty acid 18:2 n-6 w
as dominant in meat from the pellet fed animals. Similar differences in the
neutral lipid fraction were found when comparing fatty acid composition be
tween treatment groups, however the abundance of these fatty acids was much
less. The present results confirm previous findings that reindeer fed typi
cal pelleted commercial feed mixtures generally have an improved nutritiona
l status. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.