Carcass and meat quality determination as a tool to promote local meat consumption in outermost regions of Europe

Within the subtropical outermost regions of Europe, meat is obtained from two sources: importation and local production. Transportation time is the critical factor that affects imported meat (IM) and carcass quality, whereas local meat (LM) is frequently obtained from regional breeds. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate local and imported carcasses and meat quality in order to promote the consumption of local breeds, using the Canary Islands (Spain) as a model for other subtropical outermost regions. For this study 20 half-carcasses from Palmera breed and 20 imported half-carcasses were used at two different weights (5 and 10 kg). Five-kilogram local lamb carcasses had less moisture and more protein than did comparable IM carcasses. LM did, however, contain lower levels of saturated fatty acids and more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids than did IM. The atherogenicity index for LM was quite low, therefore, allowing local vendors to market their product as a healthier meat. Differences between LM and IM were not as dramatic when 10-kg carcasses were compared.