Effect of dietary starch level and its rumen degradability on lamb meat fatty acid composition

Abstract Forty lambs were fed one of four diets supplemented with a linseed and sunflower oil blend but differing in starch level (mid, ≈ 35 vs. high, ≈ 50%) and starch rumen degradability (mid, ≈ 70 vs. high, ≈ 80%). The effects of diet on growth, carcass traits and meat fatty acid (FA) composition, with emphasis on biohydrogenation intermediates were evaluated. Lambs stayed on trial for 5 weeks until slaughter. Treatment had no effect on animal performance and carcass traits. High-degradability diets decreased ( P  = 0.04) meat shear force compared with mid-degradability diets. Lipid content of meat was unaffected by the diet. Mid-starch diets increased ( P cis -MUFA but decreased ( P trans -MUFA, particularly the t 10-18:1, when compared with high-starch diets. The t 11-18:1 (0.7% of total FA) and c 9, t 11-18:2 (