Fatty acid composition of muscle and adipose tissues of organic and conventional Blanca Andaluza suckling kids

Abstract

Interest in the preservation of autochthonous breeds such as the Blanca Andaluza goat (meat breed), raised under grazing-based management, has recently increased among Spanish farmers. A study of the possibilities of transformation to organic production needs to analyze the quality of their products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) composition of muscle and adipose tissues of Blanca Andaluza goat kids under organic and conventional grazing-based management system. Twenty-four twin kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from each system. The FA profile was determined in the longissimus thoracis muscle, kidney and pelvic fat. The percentages of C17:0, C17:1, C20:1, C20:4 n-6, C22:2 and several n-3 FAs were higher in organic meat; C12:0, C18:1 trans-11, CLA and C20:5 n-3 were lower in organic meat. The fat depots from the conventional kids showed lower percentages of C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C17:0, C17:1, C18:3 n-3 and atherogenicity index, and higher percentage of C18:0. In the pelvic fat, the conventional kids displayed lower percentages of C16:0, C18:2 n-6 cis, PUFA, n-3 and n-6 FAs, and greater percentages of C18:1 n-9 cis and MUFA. The conventional kids displayed a major n6:n3 ratio in the kidney fat. No gender differences were observed. Significant differences were found only in some FA percentages of muscle and adipose tissues of suckling kids raised in organic and conventional livestock production systems, and due to this reason conventional grazing-based management farms could easily be transformed into organic production.

Carcase and meat quality of Blanca Andaluza kids fed exclusively with milk from their dams under organic and conventional grazing-based management systems

“…The lighter weights recorded for the organically raised kids are consistent with a decreasing plan of protein or energy provision leading to a reduced metabolic rate and mass of metabolically active tissue (Wester et al 1995). In this work, the supplementary feed provided to the dams on the organic farm was less copious than that provided on the conventional farm (see also De la Vega et al 2013). However, the kids were fed exclusively on their mothers' milk; this is, therefore, the only factor that could have influenced the values recorded for the non-carcase components.…”

“…Twenty-four October-born twin goat kids (12 males and 12 females) were selected from each farm; all were fed entirely on their mothers' milk. The dams were raised similarly under semi-extensive conditions based on the grazing of natural pasture (pasture is available year-round), but while lactating were provided a supplementary feed concentrate (for details see De la Vega et al 2013).…”

Effects of Oils Rich in Linoleic and α-Linolenic Acids on Fatty Acid Profile and Gene Expression in Goat Meat

“…Saturated fatty acids in meat as a source of fat in the human diet are associated with several diseases including coronary heart diseases [ 2 ]. Ruminant meat can be a good dietary source of some nutrients with health benefits, such as long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The recommended dietary ratio of n -6/ n -3 fatty acids for health benefits is 1:1–2:1 [ 6 , 7 ], yet the typical Malaysian diet often contains 10 or more times the amount of n -6 relative to n -3 PUFA [ 1 ].…”

Role of body condition score and body weight in the control of seasonal reproduction in Blanca Andaluza goats

“…The raising of these goats provides a representative example of a grazing-associated goat meat production system. Kids are slaughtered when their body weight reaches 8-9 kg (De la Vega et al, 2013). The majority of farms that produce Blanca Andaluza goats are found in Andalusia (southern Spain), usually in areas of difficult terrain and poor soils, and where there are climate-induced fluctuations in food availability.…”