Effect of vitamin E supplementation and diet on fatty acid composition and on meat colour and lipid oxidation of lamb leg steaks displayed in modified atmosphere packs

Abstract Groups of 8 lambs were allocated to one of five concentrate diets supplemented with all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate containing 30 (C30), 60 (C60), 120 (C120), 250 (C250) and 500 (C500) mg/kg dry matter. Two other groups were fed grass silage and 400 g/day concentrate with 60 (S60) or 500 (S500) mg α-tocopheryl acetate/kg dry matter. Within diet, vitamin E level did not affect growth performance or carcass characteristics. Basal diet did not affect final live weight, conformation and fatness scores. M. semimembranosus from S lambs contained more α-tocopherol than that of C lambs on the same intake and by day 6 in MAP (75%O2/25%CO2) chroma and a* were below acceptable levels in C30 lambs. TBARS were higher in C30 and C60 muscle than in other treatments (P