Influence of Flaxseed Enriched Diet in Broad-snouted caiman (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) Meat.

PIÑA, C. I.; LUCERO, L.; SIMONCINI, M.; PETERSON, G.; TAVELLA, M.

ZOOTECNIA TROPICAL

Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agricolas INIA

Lugar: Maracay; Año: 2017

0798-7269

Diet influences fatty acid composition of meat in monogastric animals. Increasing essential fatty acids of meats would improve its nutritional quality for human consumption. This work was to know the lipid profile of commercially-raised caimans, and to evaluate if addition of flaxseed into diet improves n-3 fattyacids concentration in meat. Caimans were randomly assigned to three treatments: regular food; addition of 10% whole flaxseed; and addition of 10%mashed flaxseed. Diet composition affected fatty acid profiles in the meat, and differences were more evident between control and mashed flaxseeds. Caiman meat presents a healthy fatty acid profile for human consumption and an ideal ration-6/n-3. Addition of mashed flaxseeds to diet improves caiman meat qualities,by reducing the concentration of saturated fatty acids, and increasing concentration of oleic, and alpha-linolenic fatty acids.