Meat quality, fatty acid composition of tissue and gastrointestinal content, and antioxidant status of lamb fed seed of a halophyte (Suaeda glauca)

Twenty-four Merino lambs were randomly assigned to four treatments: control diet (CT) consisting of 300 g concentrates with ad libitum Leymus chinensis hay; C with 150 g (T150), 300 g (T300) and 450 g (T450) Suaeda glauca seed, respectively. Meat quality, fatty acid composition of meat and lipid tissue and antioxidant status of lamb were evaluated. Inclusion of S. glauca seeds significantly increased selenium (Se) concentrations of muscle. The proportions of C18:1 trans-11 in muscle, C18:2 n − 6, PUFA, n − 6 series fatty acids, and the ratios of P:S in rumen contents, as well as the ratios of n − 6:n − 3 in adipose tissue, rumen and duodenum content have been significantly (P < 0.05) improved with supplementation of S. glauca seeds to lamb diets. No significant effect was found on antioxidant status. The results suggest that S. glauca seed supplementation in lamb diets may change fatty acid composition in tissues and content of digestive tract.