Meat quality of lambs (hair and wool) slaughtered at different live weights

Figures & data

Table 1. Predicted means and effects of breed, slaughter weight and sex for pH and meat colour (m. Longissimus) of lambs (n = 120) of Canaria and Canaria Hair breeds.

Characteristics	Breed						Sex		SEM	Effect
	Canaria			Canaria Hair						Breed	Weight	Sex	Breed × weight	Breed × Sex
	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	Male	Female
pH 45 min	6.90^c	6.62^a	6.66^a	6.73^ab	6.67^ab	6.71^ab	6.72	6.70	0.020	NS	0.001	NS	0.033	NS
pH 24 h	5.97^c	5.62^ab	5.58^a	5.77^b	5.67^ab	5.61^ab	5.74	5.68	0.019	NS	0.001	NS	0.001	NS
Colour coordinates 45 min
L* (lightness)	42.99	40.17	39.16	42.98	38.98	37.13	40.77	39.64	0.330	0.045	0.001	0.022	NS	NS
a* (redness)	17.37	18.25	19.33	16.42	16.65	17.11	17.32	17.73	0.241	0.001	NS	NS	NS	NS
b* (yellowness)	5.13^b	2.26^a	2.16^a	2.69^a	2.17^a	2.13^a	2.68	2.74	0.123	0.001	0.001	NS	0.001	NS
Hue°	16.61^b	6.87^a	5.72^a	9.16^a	7.44^a	6.87^a	8.59	8.59	0.007	0.001	0.001	NS	0.001	NS
Chroma	18.15	18.40	19.46	16.67	16.81	17.28	17.59	17.99	0.240	0.001	NS	NS	NS	NS
Colour coordinates 24 h
L* (lightness)	48.13	45.33	43.89	49.19	44.99	43.69	46.52	45.16	0.434	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
a* (redness)	18.66^b	16.65^ab	19.59^b	15.95^a	17.72^ab	18.03^ab	17.55	17.92	0.272	0.039	0.018	NS	0.009	NS
b* (yellowness)	8.31	7.44	6.08	7.25	8.34	6.06	6.86	7.63	0.203	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
Hue°	20.55	18.36	20.61	17.58	19.62	19.15	19.00	19.57	0.010	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
Chroma	20.55^b	18.36^ab	20.61^b	17.58^a	19.62^ab	19.15^ab	19.00	19.57	0.275	0.045	NS	NS	0.006	NS

Notes: SEM = standard error of mean; NS = non-significant (P > .05).

^a,bMeans in the same row showing different letters are significantly different (P ≤ .05).

Table 2. Predicted means and effects of breed, slaughter weight and sex for fat colour of lambs (n = 120) of Canaria and Canaria Hair breeds.

	Breed						Sex		SEM	Effect
	Canaria			Canaria Hair						Breed	Weight	Sex	Breed × Weight	Breed × Sex
Characteristics	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	Male	Female
Colour coordinates 45 min
L* (lightness)	68.45	71.22	72.88	71.00	72.43	75.05	71.73	72.00	0.323	0.001	0.001	NS	NS	NS
a* (redness)	7.03	5.27	4.31	5.30	5.17	4.60	5.37	5.14	0.191	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
b* (yellowness)	5.39^b	3.42^a	3.15^a	1.77^a	3.01^a	3.54^a	3.10	3.58	0.180	0.001	NS	NS	0.001	NS
Hue°	36.66^b	32.08^b	35.51^b	13.74^a	28.64^b	37.23^b	28.64	32.08	0.025	0.002	0.002	NS	0.001	NS
Chroma	9.04^b	6.44^a	5.43^a	5.84^a	6.19^a	5.86^a	6.39	6.46	0.220	0.013	0.002	NS	0.001	NS
Colour coordinates 24 h
L* (lightness)	70.13	71.69	72.50	68.04	70.96	71.46	70.78	70.86	0.317	0.043	0.001	NS	NS	NS
a* (redness)	8.94^c	7.22^ab	6.14^a	7.73^b	6.87^ab	7.01^ab	7.13	7.45	0.169	NS	0.001	NS	0.029	NS
b* (yellowness)	7.37^b	6.49^ab	5.45^a	5.82^a	6.10^a	6.07^a	5.97	6.43	0.172	NS	NS	NS	0.043	NS
Hue°	37.81	41.82	40.10	36.66	41.24	40.10	38.95	40.10	0.011	NS	0.040	NS	NS	NS
Chroma	11.68^b	9.74^a	8.28^a	9.80^a	9.24^a	9.33^a	9.39	9.89	0.216	NS	0.001	NS	0.017	NS

Note: NS = non-significant (P > .05).

^a,bMeans in the same row showing different letters are significantly different (P ≤ .05).

Table 3. Chemical composition de lambs (n = 120) of Canaria and Canaria Hair breeds.

Characteristics	Breed						Sex		SEM	Effects
	Canarian			Canarian Hair			Male	Female		Breed	Weight	Sex	Breed × Weight	Breed × Sex
	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg
WHC, (% liquid expelled)	13.22	15.10	17.10	15.10	17.90	17.60	16.33	15.80	0.378	0.019	0.002	NS	NS	NS
CL, (%)	32.26^b	28.82^a	28.20^a	29.29^ab	29.85^ab	27.06^a	29.25	29.16	0.298	NS	0.001	NS	0.011	NS
WBSF, (N)	25.09^a	35.19^ab	36.19^ab	38.18^b	36.84^b	36.87^b	35.02	34.79	1.032	0.007	NS	NS	0.019	NS
Moisture, (%)	75.63^c	72.86^a	72.70^a	74.33^b	73.51^ab	73.72^ab	73.95	73.56	0.123	NS	0.001	0.012	0.001	NS
IMF, (%)	2.19	2.43	3.07	1.71	1.86	1.98	2.11	2.30	0.070	0.001	0.001	NS	NS	NS
Ash, (%)	0.89	0.99	0.92	0.96	1.03	0.99	0.95	0.98	0.010	0.001	0.001	NS	NS	NS
Protein, (%)	19.57^a	22.19^b	21.86^b	21.54^b	22.36^b	22.36^b	21.60	21.77	0.126	0.001	0.001	NS	0.001	0.045
Total collagen (TC)^1	429.48	438.57	391.99	449.11	458.27	462.00	457.43	419.99	11.24	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
Soluble collagen (SC)^1	364.61	337.66	290.75	387.61	358.47	359.47	368.89	330.60	10.28	NS	NS	0.050	NS	NS
SC/TC	0.84	0.78	0.75	0.86	0.78	0.77	0.80	0.79	0.010	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS

Notes: NS = non-significant (P > .05); WHC = water-holding capacity; WBSF = Warner–Bratzler Shear Force; IMF = intramuscular fat; SC/TC = soluble collagen/total collagen; CL = cooking losses.

¹µg hydroxyproline/g fresh muscle.

^a,b,c means in the same row showing different letters are significantly different (P ≤ .05).

Table 4. Saturated fatty acid composition (%) of intramuscular lipids in m. Longissimus of lambs (n = 120) of Canarian and Canarian Hair breeds.

	Breed						Sex		SEM	Effects
	Canarian			Canarian Hair			Male	Female		Breed	Weight	Sex	Breed × Weight	Breed × Sex
	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg
SFA	47.61	46.83	44.78	47.76	45.99	43.00	46.21	45.74	0.27	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C10: 0	0.20	0.15	0.11	0.15	0.15	0.10	0.15	0.14	0.00	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C12: 0	0.64	0.41	0.23	0.57	0.43	0.19	0.44	0.37	0.02	NS	0.001	0.010	NS	NS
C13: 0	2.47	1.94	1.29	3.42	2.37	1.61	2.42	1.94	0.12	0.012	0.001	0.024	NS	NS
C14: 0	5.84	5.34	3.75	5.51	5.06	3.19	4.78	4.76	0.13	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C15: 0	0.40	0.37	0.33	0.43	0.37	0.31	0.37	0.36	0.01	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
C16: 0	25.90	25.83	25.93	24.56	25.48	24.92	25.14	25.71	0.18	NS	NS	0.014	NS	NS
C18: 0	10.62	11.50	12.53	11.55	10.75	11.36	11.53	11.26	0.17	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
C20: 0	0.57	0.62	0.42	0.62	0.68	0.39	0.56	0.54	0.02	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C22: 0	0.27	0.18	0.13	0.27	0.20	0.19	0.23	0.18	0.00	NS	0.001	0.002	NS	0.016
C23: 0	0.30	0.27	0.13	0.39	0.29	0.22	0.30	0.24	0.01	0.003	0.001	0.002	NS	NS
C24: 0	0.37	0.17	0.15	0.25	0.16	0.20	0.24	0.18	0.01	0.049	0.001	0.001	NS	NS

Notes: SFA = saturated fatty acids; NS = non-significant (P > .05); SEM = standard error of the mean.

Table 5. Monounsaturated fatty acid composition (%) of intramuscular lipids in longissimus muscle of lambs (n = 120) of Canarian and Canarian Hair breeds.

	Breed						Sex		SEM	Effects
	Canarian			Canarian Hair			Male	Female		Breed	Weight	Sex	Breed × Weight	Breed × Sex
	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg
TUFA	52.38	53.16	55.21	52.23	54.00	56.99	53.78	54.25	0.27	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
MUFA	34.99	39.78	43.89	33.52	38.63	42.80	38.03	39.95	0.44	0.036	0.001	0.001	NS	NS
C14: 1	0.48	0.34	0.27	0.36	0.34	0.27	0.36	0.33	0.01	NS	0.007	NS	NS	NS
C15: 1	0.18	0.21	0.13	0.20	0.19	0.13	0.18	0.17	0.00	NS	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C16: 1	2.15	2.38	2.10	1.73	3.20	2.22	2.29	2.32	0.15	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
C18: 1t	1.61	1.24	1.88	1.12	1.46	1.46	1.49	1.43	0.07	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
C18: 1c	30.55	35.59	39.48	30.08	33.42	38.70	33.70	35.68	0.41	0.027	0.001	0.001	NS	NS
PUFA	17.39	13.37	11.32	18.71	15.36	14.18	15.75	14.30	0.33	0.001	0.001	0.002	NS	NS
C16: 2	0.90	0.84	0.85	0.79	0.90	0.80	0.83	0.86	0.03	NS	NS	NS	NS	NS
C16: 3	0.96	0.98	1.34	0.82	0.88	1.21	1.00	1.06	0.03	0.023	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C16: 4	0.43	0.46	0.63	0.39	0.45	0.65	0.47	0.54	0.03	NS	0.020	NS	NS	NS
C18: 2	8.47	5.99	5.36	8.79	7.46	7.28	7.55	6.86	0.18	0.001	0.001	0.012	NS	NS
C18: 3	0.59^a	1.10^b	0.61^a	1.34^c	1.14^bc	0.63^a	0.93	0.89	0.03	0.001	0.001	NS	0.001	NS
C18: 4	0.13	0.12	0.09	0.14	0.12	0.10	0.12	0.11	0.00	NS	0.001	0.010	NS	NS
C20: 3	0.39	0.24	0.14	0.43	0.28	0.19	0.29	0.26	0.01	0.034	0.001	NS	NS	NS
C20: 4	3.82^c	2.21^a	1.60^a	3.26^bc	2.36^b	2.26^a	2.81	2.32	0.10	NS	0.001	0.001	0.011	NS
C20: 5	0.35^bc	0.44^bc	0.16^a	0.80^d	0.51^c	0.28^b	0.48	0.38	0.02	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	NS
C22: 6	0.36	0.25	0.10	0.51	0.28	0.17	0.31	0.25	0.01	0.001	0.001	0.001	NS	NS
C24: 4	0.93	0.70	0.37	1.38	0.93	0.56	0.90	0.73	0.04	0.001	0.001	0.001	NS	0.030

Notes: MUFA = monounsaturated fatty acids; PUFA = Polyunsaturated fatty acids; TUFA = total unsaturated fatty acids; NS = non-significant (P > .05); SEM = standard error of the mean.

^a.b.c.dMeans in the same row showing different letters are significantly different (P ≤ .05).

Table 6. Nutritional indexes and fatty acid ratios of meat from longissimus muscle of lambs (n = 120) of Canarian and Canarian Hair breeds.

	Breed						Sex		SEM	Effects
	Canarian			Canarian Hair			Male	Female		Breed	Weight	Sex	Breed × Weight	Breed × Sex
	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg
TUFA/SFA	1.10	1.13	1.23	1.09	1.18	1.33	1.17	1.19	0.01	0.045	0.001	NS	NS	NS
PUFA/SFA	0.36	0.28	0.25	0.39	0.33	0.33	0.34	0.31	0.00	0.001	0.001	0.015	NS	NS
AI	0.96	0.90	0.74	0.90	0.86	0.66	0.84	0.83	0.01	0.043	0.001	NS	NS	NS
TI	1.80	1.62	1.58	1.64	1.56	1.47	1.62	1.59	0.01	0.001	0.001	NS	NS	NS
n−6	12.68^b	8.44^a	7.11^a	12.49^b	10.11^a	9.74^a	10.66	9.45	0.27	0.002	0.001	0.003	0.028	NS
n−3	1.45^b	1.93^c	0.99^a	2.82^d	2.07^c	1.19^ab	1.85	1.64	0.06	0.001	0.001	0.002	0.001	NS
n−6/n−3	9.18^b	4.34^a	7.68^b	4.40^a	5.07^a	8.87^b	6.59	6.48	0.26	0.015	0.001	NS	0.001	NS

Notes: AI = atherogenic index; TI = thrombogenic index; TUFA = total unsaturated fatty acids; PUFA = Polyunsaturated fatty acids; SFA = saturated acids; NS = non-significant (p > .05); SEM = standard error of the mean. n−6 = (C18:2 + C20:3 + C20:4); n−3 = (C18:3 + C18:4 + C20: 5 + C22:6).

^a.b.c.dMeans in the same row showing different letters are significantly different (P ≤ .05).

Table 7. Lambda of Wilks values and significance levels of different discriminant functions for meat quality.

Functions	Lambda of Wilks	Chi-square	Variance %	Sig.
1	0.006	502.231	43.2	.001
2	0.034	328.235	30.8	.001
3	0.155	180.747	18.5	.001
4	0.487	69.778	3.9	.001
5	0.705	33.879	3.6	.006

Figure 1. Discriminant functions and centroids of breed × weight interaction.

Table 8. Combined intra-group correlations between discriminant variables and canonical discriminant functions.

Variables	Function
	1	2	3
n−3 fatty acids	0.559	−0.502	0.004
Monounsaturated fatty acids	−0.539	−0.020	0.107
Polyunsaturated fatty acids	0.394	0.019	0.034
n−6 fatty acids	0.357	0.109	0.047
Saturated fatty acids	0.238	0.004	−0.165
SC	0.109	−0.011	0.082
Protein	−0.222	−0.403	0.222
Shear force	−0.061	−0.203	0.056
pH	−0.125	−0.081	−0.574
Ash	−0.023	−0.186	0.250
Lightness (L*)	0.022	−0.102	−0.246
TC	0.044	−0.037	0.109
IMF	−0.242	0.080	−0.253
WHC	−0.136	−0.110	0.061
Moisture	0.352	0.353	0.034
Thrombogenic index	−0.040	0.161	−0.135
Yellowness (b*)	−0.020	−0.061	−0.248
CL	0.164	0.157	−0.091
AI index	0.241	0.043	−0.123
Chroma	−0.096	0.009	−0.162
Redness (a*)	−0.099	0.029	−0.111

Note: The highest correlations are shown in bold.

Table 9. Predicted means and effect of functions 1 and 2.

	Breed × Weight						Effect
	Canaria			Canaria Hair			Breed	Weight	Breed × Weight
	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg	10 kg	16 kg	25 kg
Function 1	2.023^d	−0.343^c	−3.299^a	2.966^e	0.105^c	−2.073^b	0.001	0.001	0.001
Function 2	3.740^e	−1.093^b	0.053^c	−1.880^a	−1.178^b	0.747^d	0.001	0.001	0.001

^a,b,c,d,eMeans in the same row showing different letters are significantly different (P ≤ .05).