Abstract: The flavor of mutton affects the acceptance of consumers.Adipose tissue is the most obvious source of mutton flavor, and the compounds presenting mutton flavor mainly include branched chain fatty acids, aldehyde compounds, phenolic compounds, ketone substance and so on.Mutton flavor is affected by genetic factors such as breed, sex, age, nutrition factors such as the nutrient level of diet and additive, feeding model and disease, etc.The effect of breed on the flavor may be achieved by the genetic control on fat composition and metabolism, and the amount of fat oxidation products is the main reason for different flavor among species.There are differences in fatty content and composition because of different sex, and it also has an effect on the flavor of mutton.Along with the growth of sheep, the deposits of subcutaneous fat, the proportion of saturated fatty acid, and the concentration of the lipid oxide increase, all these led to strong flavor of the lamb.Each parts of the lamb has different flavor because of the differences kind and content of the volatile compounds.The types of diet have a certain influence on mutton flavor, such as high protein feed, high energy feed, flavor plant, seeds with high content of unsaturated fatty acid and other additives.Feeding mode and disease factor also can make a change of mutton flavor.Other factors, such as the feeding density, illumination and so on, also have effects on the flavor of mutton in varying degrees.The flavor of mutton can be improved through breed selection, nutrition regulation and scientific feeding and management during sheep production.

Key words: mutton flavor; genetic factor; nutrition factor; feeding mode