Veterinary Archives, Vol. 81 No. 5, 2011.
Original scientific paper
Cholesterol and fatty acid composition of lamb serum and offal as affected by alfalfa and concentrate
Ibrahım H. Cercı
; Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
Mehmet Cıftcı
; Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
Muammer Bahsı
; Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
Unal Kılınc
; Veterinary Control and Research Institute, Elazig, Turkey
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fresh, ensiled and dried alfalfa on the fatty acid composition and cholesterol level of the serum, liver, kidney and spleen samples in yearling sheep. Forty Akkaraman lambs, 4 months of age, with an average body weight of 21 kg were used in the study. All diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. The lambs were divided into four groups according to feed: wheat straw as roughage (Control group, C); fresh alfalfa as roughage (AF group); ensiled alfalfa (AS group); and dried alfalfa (AD group). The alfalfa group had lower saturated fatty acid (SFA) and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents than the wheat straw group. In parallel, SFA concentrations in the serum and offal (liver, kidney and spleen) were signifi cantly higher in the controls, whereas the highest PUFA amounts were recorded in lambs fed with fresh alfalfa. Serum and offal proportions of ω3 and ω6 fatty acids significantly increased except in serum ω3 content of lambs fed with alfalfa. However, the cholesterol level decreased in all groups given alfalfa. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that alfalfa consumption causes a significant decrease in cholesterol levels and a significant increase in PUFA levels in lambs. Additionally, it may be said that the risk of coronary heart diseases may decrease in humans who consume the offal of lambs fed with alfalfa.
Keywords
alfalfa; fatty acid; cholesterol; lamb; serum; offal
Hrčak ID:
72958
URI
Publication date:
20.10.2011.
Visits: 1.151 *