Kangaroo adipose tissue has higher concentrations of cis 9, trans 11-conjugated linoleic acid than lamb adipose tissue

Ruminant tissues and products contain conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) due to biohydrogenation in the rumen. We hypothesize that kangaroos would have higher concentrations of CLA compared to lambs due to incomplete biohydrogenation of fatty acids in the kangaroo foregut. Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue (including cis 9, trans 11 CLA) from lambs and kangaroos were significantly different. The concentrations of CLA and its precursor trans vaccenic acid (TVA) in the adipose tissue of kangaroos were approximately four and five times that of lambs. Kangaroo fat was significantly less saturated and had a lower melting point