Abstract:To clarify the effects of grazing in different regions on the amino acids, fatty acids, and flavor of Tibetan sheep leg meat, an experiment was conducted using Tibetan sheep as the research subjects. Sixty Tibetan sheep were divided into two groups, which were grazed on natural pastures in either saline-alkali or non-saline-alkali regions. After 150 d, the triceps brachii and biceps femoris muscles were collected from both groups. The amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile flavor compounds were then measured. The results showed that a higher total amino acid content was observed in the foreleg meat of Tibetan sheep grazed in saline-alkali areas (48,905.77 μmol·kg-1), while a lower content was detected in the hindleg meat (29,677.35 μmol·kg-1). Compared with the leg meat of Tibetan sheep from non-saline-alkali regions, higher levels of N3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower levels of saturated fatty acids were found in the leg meat of sheep from saline-alkali areas. The results of gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry indicated that a total of 41 volatile compounds were detected in the leg muscles of the two groups of Tibetan sheep, with most volatile substances being present in higher amounts in the leg muscles of Tibetan sheep from non-saline-alkali areas. Heptanal and nine other volatile compounds were identified as key flavor compounds in the foreleg muscles of both groups of Tibetan sheep, while 3-methylbutanol and 11 other volatile compounds were identified as key flavor compounds in the hindleg muscles of both groups of Tibetan sheep. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that positive correlations were observed between heptanal, hexanal, 1-pentanol and oleic acid, as well as between 2-methylbutanal and isoleucine. This study has demonstrated the differences in leg meat quality of Tibetan sheep from different regions, providing theoretical references for the development of animal husbandry in saline-alkali areas.