Abstract: The longissimus dorsi muscles of Duolang sheep slaughtered at the age of 6 months in factory farming and Gobi desert stocking were used to investigate the differences in slaughter performance, pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), tenderness, color, antioxidant ability, fatty acid content and the ultrastructure of myofibrils. The results showed that the tenderness, lightness after 7 days of maturation and total fatty acids in the factory farming group were better than those in the Gobi desert stocking group (P < 0.05). The WHC, antioxidant ability, redness at day 1 postmortem and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the Gobi desert stocking group were better than those in the factory farming group (P < 0.05). Compared with the Gobi desert stocking group, bigger myofibril density, smaller myofibril diameter and closer myofibril arrangement were observed for the factory farming group. In conclusion, both feeding modes have their own advantages for the meat quality of Duolang sheep and in actual practice, the existing feeding conditions should be improved for producing high-quality mutton.

Key words: Duolang sheep, factory farming, Gobi desert stocking, meat quality