Combined quantitative lipidomics and back-propagation neural network approach to discriminate the breed and part source of lamb

The study successfully utilized an analytical approach that combined quantitative lipidomics with back-propagation neural networks to identify breed and part source of lamb using small-scale samples. 1230 molecules across 29 lipid classes were identified in longissimus dorsi and knuckle meat of both Tan sheep and Bahan crossbreed sheep. Applying multivariate statistical methods, 12 and 7 lipid molecules were identified as potential markers for breed and part identification, respectively. Stepwise linear discriminant analysis was applied to select 3 and 4 lipid molecules, respectively, for discriminating lamb breed and part sources, achieving correct rates of discrimination of 100 % and 95 %. Additionally, back-propagation neural network proved to be a superior method for identifying sources of lamb meat compared to other machine learning approaches. These findings indicate that integrating lipidomics with back-propagation neural network approach can provide an effective strategy to trace and certify lamb products, ensuring their quality and protecting consumer rights.