Fatty acids profile in Longissimus dorsi of Santa Ines lambs fed with different energy levels

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of rations with different levels of metabolizable energy on the content of total lipids, cholesterol and fatty acid profile of the longissimus dorsi of Santa Ines lambs. Twenty Santa Ines lambs were used, with age and body weight of 50 days and 13.0 kg ± 0.56 kg, respectively, fed rations with different energy levels: 2.08; 2.28; 2.47 e 2.69 Mcal/kgDM. Animals were weighed weekly to follow their body weight gain (BWG); when the mean BW of the treatment reached 28 kg, the animals were slaughtered. The analysis of the lipid profile of Longissimus dorsi presented linear increasing and decreasing for the Cis-10 heptadecanoic acid (C17:1) and eicosatrienoic (C20:3), respectively, with the increasing dietary energy levels (P < 0.05). Cholesterol levels (mg/100g) decreased in relation to the increase in energy levels in the diet. The relations polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): saturated fatty acids (SFA); PUFA: monounsaturated fatty acids (MUA), MUA: SFA, desirable fatty acids, w-6:w-3, atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index, relation between hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids and the relation (C18:0+C18:1):C16:0 were not affected by energy levels (P>0.05). The dietary manipulation influences the lipid profile in Longissimus dorsi of Santa Ines lambs.