FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND CLA CONTENT OF AKKARAMAN SUCKLING LAMBS

In this study, fatty acid composition and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of Akkaraman suckling lambs were investigated. Fifteen male Akkaraman suckling lambs, the most common lamb breeds in Turkey, were fed mainly maternal milk from birth to weaning and slaughtered at three months of age with an average live weight of 25 kg after weaning. Samples from different body parts, Longissimus dorsi, perirenal, omental, subcutaneous aipose tissue and tail, of lambs were obtained. Differences in fatty acid composition and CLA of lambs were observed among different body parts. In suckling lambs, total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), total ω3 and ω6 fatty acids were the highest in Longissimus dorsi muscle, while the highest total CLA was determined in tail fat.