The objective of this work was to compare total lipids content and composition of the unsaponifiable fraction of the Longissimus dorsi in crossbred Ile de France x Corriedale (IF x C,F1) lambs with Corriedale lambs (C ). A total of twenty ram lambs was divided in two groups: crossbred IFxC (n =10) and C (n=10). These were mantained in an improved native pasture and they were slaughtered at the age of 150 days with an average weight of 33.08kg (±1.20) and 26.4kg (±1.37), respectively. The lipids were extracted from the Longissimus dorsi samples, the saponified and the unsaponifiable (sterols) fractions were analysed by thin chromatography and the cholesterol content (mg/100g) was performed on a gas chromatography. The results showed averages (in g%) of 2.13 (±0.42) and 2.12 (±0.41) for total lipids; 3.28 (±0.65) and 3.69 (±0.94) for unsaponifiable fraction; 44.05 (±7.33) and 52.59 (±7.05) for sterols (P<0.01); whereas the averages for cholesterol (mg/100g in wet based) were 38.37 (±4.58) and 39.16 (±7.09) for IFxC and C Longissimus dorsi samples, respectively. The IFxC cross (F1 ram lambs) did not result in modification of contents total lipids and cholesterol contents when compared with the Corriedale breed.
meat lamb; breed; crossbreeding; lipids; cholesterol
