Sheep meat Beni-Guil breed: A local meat labeled PGI to promote quality and preserve biodiversity in Morocco

Currently, meat consumers are more conscious about the authentic meat products linked to their origin, which generates a growing demand for labeled sheep meat. In eastern Morocco, the Beni-Guil (BG) sheep meat is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product. This study aimed to assess the variation of intramuscular fat quality of BG sheep in its cradles (Cr). The chemical composition of the longissimus lumborum muscle was evaluated from 20 female lambs obtained in the two main cradles of the BG breed (Ain Beni-Mathar (BG-Cr1) and Tendrara (BG-Cr2). The results show that the FA profile was affected by Cr (p