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 backpropagation 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.