Analysis of the volatile fraction of lamb fat tissue: influence of the type of feeding

The volatile compounds of subcutaneous fat tissue of lambs were analysed by dynamic headspace sampling-high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (DHS-HRGC-MS). The animals were produced in six European countries according to local traditional rearing conditions and they were classified into two groups according to the predominant type of feed consumed (pasture or concentrate). The analysis showed that the pasture-fed lambs clearly differed from the concentrate-fed lambs. Fat samples from the pasture-fed lambs desorbed greater quantities of compounds of green leaf tissue origin such as long-chain alkanes, C7 aldehydes and 2,3-octanedione. The fat samples from the concentrate-fed lambs desorbed greater quantities of short-branched and non-branched acids and methyl ketones. The present results suggest that 2,3-octanedione or long-chain alkanes, and 4-heptanone or 2-octanone in the lamb subcutaneous fat tissue are specific of feedings consisting predominantly of pasture and concentrate, respec-Dans chaque numro, cette rubrique met en avant un article traitant d'un des aspects de la nutrition, du rle des technologies agroalimentaires sur la qualit des aliments jusqu' la cuisine , en passant par les problmes nutritionnels, la toxicologie alimentaire, et plus gnralement les consquences sur la sant des pratiques alimentaires. Les articles retenus sont soit des travaux de synthse de haut niveau faisant le point sur une question, soit des publications originales rendant compte de travaux de recherche applique rcents apportant un regard nouveau.