Fatty acid composition of light lamb meat from Leccese and Comisana dairy breeds as affected by slaughter age

• Fatty acid profile of light lambs meat was evaluated in two dairy Italian breeds.
• Breed and slaughter age interactions influenced fatty acid composition.
• Younger lambs (45-days) had more favourable fatty acid profile in Leccese breed.
• Slaughter age at 60 days improved fatty acid profile in Comisana lambs.

Forty lambs of two Italian dairy breeds were used to study the effects of slaughter age and breed on meat fatty acid composition. Lambs were subdivided into four groups (n. 10) according to a factorial scheme of two breeds (Leccese and Comisana) × two slaughter ages (45 and 60 days). The lambs were fed maternal milk supplemented with hay and concentrate from the 30th day to the slaughter. Leccese lambs at 45 days exhibited a FA profile more compatible to nutritional requirements for human health. They displayed a lower SFA proportion, a higher UFA/SFA and MUFA/SFA ratios than Comisana. The delay of slaughtering age at 60 days improved FA composition in Comisana lambs which had lower SFA content, AI and TI indexes and higher UFA/SFA and MUFA/SFA ratios and n-3 PUFA content than in Leccese. In both the breeds, the slaughter age at 60 days improved the CLA content.