Abstract:

The objective of this study was to investigate the difference in nutritional components of Longissimus dorsi,
Biceps femoris and Triceps brachii muscles from Sunit sheep subjected to two feeding methods (grazing and house-feeding).
Sunite sheep were slaughtered at 12 months of age for the collection of muscle samples. The results showed that pH of the
house-feeding group measured at 45 min postmortem was significantly higher than that of the grazing group (P < 0.05), and
it was not significantly different from the grazing group at 24 h postmortem. Additionally, intramuscular fat content of the
house-feeding group was higher than that of the grazing group. However, crude protein, ash, thiamine and reducing sugar
contents of the grazing group were higher than those of the house-feeding group, and the absorption of mineral element
contents in Sunit sheep was highly correlated with different feeding methods. The accumulation of nutritional components in
grazing Sunit sheep was better than in house-fed sheep, and the meat of grazing Sunit sheep was rich in a variety of nutrients
with good quality and high nutritional value.

Key words: Sunit sheep, feeding methods, nutritional component, correlation