5. Conclusions
The current study demonstrates that EPA + DHA content can be increased two fold in lamb meat by supplementing 1.8% algae in a roughage based diet. Increased EPA + DHA content in the muscle significantly
increased lipid oxidation of meat (TBARS) at 4 day retail display. Neither
the increase in muscle EPA + DHA concentration nor the enhanced lipid
oxidation with algae supplementation affected retail colour stability as
assessed by meat redness (a*-value) or brownness formation (R630/
R580). Multiple regression analyses show that muscle vitamin E played
a major role in maintaining colour stability at 4 day retail display than
did long chain n−3 fatty acid or formation of lipid oxidative substances
(TBARS). Further studies are needed to investigate the application of a
range of diets (commercial feedlot, summer active perennials and supplements) on antioxidant potential in the body and muscle systems, free radical formation, carcass yield and nutritive characteristics of
meat.