Mutton vs lamb: which is healthier?

For the people of Indonesia, goat satay is more popular as a food menu than satay which comes from lamb meat. Maybe you've almost never heard of lamb satay. However, lamb meat is usually commonplace if you order kebabs or lamb chop at the restaurant. Sometimes you can't even tell, is this mutton or lamb? So, is there any difference between these two meats? Which is healthier?

The nutritional content of lamb and mutton

Lamb meat may not be as popular as mutton in Indonesia. In fact, according to the Directorate of Nutrition, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, lamb meat has a better nutritional value than goat meat per 100 grams.

In every 100 grams of lamb there are 206 calories, 17.1 grams of protein, and 14.8 grams of fat. There are also 10 mg of calcium, 191 mg of phosphorus, 2.6 mg of iron, 0.15 mg of vitamin B1, and 66.3 grams of water.

Lamb meat is richer in protein, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1 than goat meat. Even though it is higher in calories and fat, lamb (lean) can be a great source of protein for those on a low-fat diet.

If all the visible fat from the lamb was removed, the average fat remaining was 3.7% raw and 6% when cooked.

Lamb meat in Indonesia vs imported lamb

Many local lamb meat comes from Java, such as Garut, Wonosobo, and Banjarnegara. Sheep farming can also be found in Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara. Meanwhile, imported lamb sold in Indonesia usually comes from Australia.

According to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australia is one of the best lamb exporting countries in the world. Apart from being a suitable area for raising sheep, various research and technological developments related to livestock production continue to be carried out in this country.

Australian lamb is halal certified. In addition, the standardization of safety and health of Australian lamb is guaranteed by AUSMEAT. All livestock are free from diseases such as anthrax and foot and mouth disease.

Australia also established a tracking system for its sheep. From birth, Australian sheep are fitted chips in his right ear. Thus, livestock health can be controlled more tightly. Farmers can also take immediate action if their sheep are sick.

Lamb meat has a softer texture and has a less pungent smell than mutton. Usually processed into lamb chop, lamb shank, or kebabs. However, lamb meat can also replace mutton in traditional dishes such as soup, curry, tongseng, and satay.

Does this mean goat meat is unhealthy?

The assumption that goat meat contains high cholesterol is already in the minds of the public. In fact, according to references to the nutritional content of the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA, goat meat has a lower calorie content, total fat, saturated fat, protein, and cholesterol than chicken, beef, pork, and lamb.

Per 85 grams of cooked meat, only has 122 calories, while chicken is 162 calories, beef is 179 calories, pork is 180 calories, and lamb is 175 calories. In terms of fat, this type of meat has the least amount of content. Per 85 grams of serving, goat meat has 2.6 grams of fat, 6.3 grams of chicken, 7.9 grams of beef, 8.2 grams of pork, and 8.1 grams of lamb.

The cholesterol content of goat meat is also the lowest, which is 63.8 milligrams per 85 grams of serving. This is lower than chicken which has a cholesterol content of 76 milligrams, beef and pork of 73.1 milligrams, and lamb of 78.2 milligrams.

Even though the calorie count and the fat content of goat meat are low, that doesn't mean you don't have rules for eating them. Eating too much goat meat can certainly be bad for health.