Effect of protected fat as Ca-soap and formaldehyde-treated full-fat soybean in the finisher diet of lambs on growth performance, carcass traits and fatty acid profile

Abstract

Effect of feeding Ca-soap and formaldehyde-treated full-fat soybean (FFS) on growth, carcass traits and fatty acid profile of thirty male finisher (3 months) lambs of native Malpura breed was evaluated. Lambs were equally divided into two groups and fed on two isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, one with Ca-soap 6 percent (T1) and the other with equivalent fat added through FFS (T2). Lambs were slaughtered at 6 months of age. Carcass traits and proximate composition were comparable in both the dietary groups. There were increased C16:0 and C18:1n9t fatty acids in Ca-soap-incorporated diet, whereas C15:1, C18:2n6c and C18:3n3 fatty acids were higher in FFS-supplemented diet. The fatty acid profile of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle revealed higher (P < 0.05) content of C14:0, C16:0, C18:2n6c fatty acids in FFS, whereas C18:3n3 fatty acid was higher (P < 0.05) in Ca-soap-supplemented diet. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ω-3 fatty acids were higher (P < 0.05) in Ca-soap, while monounsaturated fatty acids were higher (P < 0.05) in FFS-supplemented diet. This leads to higher PUFA: SFA ratio in Ca-soap-supplemented diet as compared to FFS. Adipose tissues of lambs fed Ca-soap showed higher (P < 0.05) contents of C18:2n6c and C18:3n3, whereas lambs fed FFS had higher C14:0, C16:0, C18:1n9t and C18:1n9c fatty acids. Thus, feeding of Ca-soap compared to FFS-supplemented diet could preferentially modulate PUFA, ω6 and ω3 fatty acid in LD muscle fat as well as adipose tissue for the benefit of human consumption.