Use of visible and near infrared reflectance spectra to predict lipid peroxidation of light lamb meat and discriminate dam's feeding systems.

Measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) is a well-established method for determine lipid oxidation in meat. This assay, however, is time-consuming and generates undesired chemical waste. Dam's milk is the principal source of vitamins and provitamins that delay lipid oxidation of light lamb meat; these compounds are stored in the lamb's muscle tissue. Hence, lamb meat could be used to determine the origin of the dam's diet. The aim of this study is to evaluate Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a tool for determining the lipid peroxidation of light lamb meat and differentiate the meat of light lambs according the diet of their dams during lactation (grazing alfalfa, lucerne, or fed a total mixed ration). NIRS using select wavelengths was able to detect the lipid oxidation of meat (TBARS method). NIRS can detect analytes at concentrations of parts per million. Moreover, the feed diets were discriminated successfully.