Effect of diet lipid source (linseed vs. soybean) and gender on performance, meat quality and intramuscular fatty acid composition in fattening lambs.

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of diet lipid source and sex on meat quality and lipid fatty acid composition in fattening lambs. Twenty-eight Gentile di Puglia breed lambs were weaned at about 35 days of age and included in a 2×2 factorial scheme of two sexes (males vs. females) and two diets (soybean meal vs. extruded linseed). Lambs fed linseed diet had a higher carcass fat score than lambs fed soybean diet. The linseed diet gave a higher (P < 0.05) PUFA content and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio than the soybean diet. The females had lower (P < 0.01) daily growth rates, higher (P < 0.01) feed conversion ratio, greater (P < 0.01) dressing percentages and fatter carcasses (P < 0.01); while, the meat of the males showed higher values of final pH, brightness and yellow index. The males showed a lower PUFA n-6:n-3 ratio in comparison with females. In conclusion, the diet influenced fewer variables compared to sex. The fatty acid composition of meat resulted more satisfying in males than females.