Performance, meat quality, intramuscular fatty acid profile, rumen characteristics and serum parameters of lambs fed microencapsulated or conventional linseed oil

Microencapsulated linseed oil (MLO) has been used in diets to enhance the omega-3 fatty acid concentration of meat beef cattle without negatively affecting ruminal microbials and digestion; however, growth performance, quality, intramuscular profile, rumen characteristics response MLO have not examined sheep. Thus, aim present study was evaluate effects microencapsulated or conventional supplement on serum parameters Small-tailed Han Eighteen 5-months-old male sheep (25.31 ± 1.31 kg) were allocated three groups. After seven days adaptation a basal diet, fed for 80 days, treatments (1) diet (CON); (2) with added 2% (LO); (3) 4% MLO. The results showed that had no performance (P ≥ 0.10). Compared CON group, pH24 h longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle LO group lower = 0.07), while shear force higher 0.01). addition increased proportions C17:1, C18:2 n-6c, total polyunsaturated acids (PUFA), PUFA/saturated n-6, it decreased proportion C17:0, C16:1 C18:1 c-9 LD < lambs C20:1, C18:3 n-3 than those pH value NH3-N content volatile acid, acetate, acetate/propionate deceased groups 0.05). Furthermore, two supplements significantly propionate, butyrate isovalerate Circulating cholesterol high-density lipoprotein concentrations by supplementation 0.04). In conclusion, these indicate did exhibit any superior composition fermentation lambs.