Dehydrated Brewery Residue (DBR) can reduce the cost of rabbit production in Brazil, but affects performance, blood nutrients, and carcass characteristics

Lambs fed cassava silage with added tamarind residue: Silage quality, intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, growth performance and carcass quality

Combination of non-protein nitrogen and N‑carbamylglutamate supplementation improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs fed low protein diets

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of age and sex on carcass traits, commercial cuts, and meat quality in crossbred kids. A total of 32 Boer × native crossbred kids were used, equally distributed according to sex and slaughter age: 16 male kids (8 slaughtered at 70 days and 8 at 100 days) and 16 female kids (8 at 70 days and 8 at 100 days). However, slaughter age significantly affected (p < 0.05) total weight gain, empty body weight, hot and cold carcass weights, loin eye area, internal fat percentage, and carcass compactness index. A significant interaction (p < 0.05) between sex and age was found for thoracic depth. In addition, leg length and leg compactness index were significantly influenced (p < 0.05) by both factors. Slaughter age also had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on internal body length, leg length, rump width, thigh perimeter, rump perimeter, chest circumference, thoracic depth, internal thoracic depth, and carcass compactness index. Regarding commercial cuts (neck, shoulder, ribs, loin, and leg), slaughter age had a significant influence (p < 0.05), reflecting the same pattern observed in hot and cold carcass weights, and indicating consistent distribution across cuts. In conclusion, slaughter age had a more pronounced effect on carcass characteristics than sex, highlighting its importance in determining meat yield and quality in crossbred kids.

Effects of feeding growing-finishing pigs with low crude protein diets on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and nutrient digestibility in different areas of China

The influence of bakery waste (BAWA) in the diet of black goat kids on nutrient intake, health, growth potential, and carcass features was assessed. Three treatment diets, consisting of 0 BAWA (CON), 50 g/kg BAWA (BAWA50), and 100 BAWA (BAWA100) of dietary dry matter (DM), were administered to 27 male kids (initial body weight = 17.43 ± kg; age = 105 ± 3.5 days) at random (9/treatment). Bakery waste was included in diets BAWA50 and BAWA100, replacing some of the barley grain. The study lasted for 70 days (7 days used for adaptation and 63 days used for data collection). Kids in the BAWA100 group consumed considerably more (p < 0.01) DM, crude protein (CP), and metabolizable energy than those in the BAWA50 and CON groups. However, intakes of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ether extract (EE) were similar (p ≥ 0.08) among the treatment diets. The kids' initial and final body weights, total growth, and average daily weight were not substantially impacted (p ≥ 0.13) by the addition of BAWA. All diets had similar feed efficiency when it came to converting feed into body weight increases (p ≥ 0.11). Nevertheless, the BAWA diet yielded a considerably lower cost gain (p = 0.04) than the CON diet. The three treatment groups had no differences (p ≥ 0.15) in DM, ADF, NDF, and EE digestibility. However, compared to the CON group, the digestibility of CP tended to improve (p = 0.07) in the BAWA100 and BAWA50 groups. The three experimental groups' nitrogen (N) intakes did not differ significantly from one another (p > 0.33). Additionally, the three diets' N retention percentage and grams/d were equivalent (p > 0.33). Several carcass metrics, such as dressing percentage, hot and cold carcass weights, fasting live weight, and non-carcass components, were not significantly affected (p > 0.23) by the addition of BAWA. Additionally, no differences in carcass cut weights were found. The inclusion of BAWA100 and BAWA50 increased loin cut weight (p = 0.043) and total lean muscle weight (p = 0.001) compared to the CON group. Other components, such as intermuscular fat, subcutaneous fat, total fat, total bone, meat-to-bone ratio, and meat-to-fat ratio, were similar among the three diet groups. Concerning carcass linear dimension measurements, only rib fat depth was greater (p = 0.008) in kids fed the BAWA100 diet compared to the BAWA50 and CON diets. No significant variation was observed among the treatments concerning various physicochemical properties of the longissimus dorsi muscle in the black goat kids. All measured serum metabolites and hematological parameters were not affected by the incorporation of BAWA into the diet. In summary, the inclusion of 50 and 100 g/kg BAWA in the diet had comparable effects on the black goat kids' feed intake, digestibility, growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and overall health. Importantly, feed costs can be reduced by using up to 100 g/kg of BAWA on a DM basis.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the diet components - crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin - as internal indicators in the determination of the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, gross energy, and of the nutrients - crude protein, phosphorus, and amino acids - in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Groups of ten juveniles (80.3±1 g) were randomly distributed in six tanks of 250 L and fed two practical diets, either of a plant-origin diet or of a plant- and animal-origin diet. Both diets were supplemented with 0.1% chromium (III) oxide (Cr2O3). Faeces were collected by the modified Guelph system. The apparent digestibility coefficients were determined by the content difference of the internal indicators, present in the diets and faeces, and compared by Dunnett’s test to those obtained by the use of Cr2O3. Cellulose was effective in the determination of the apparent digestibility of dry matter, energy, and nutrients of both experimental diets; and the acid detergent fiber was effective only for the diet composed exclusively of plant-origin ingredients. The use of crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and lignin as digestibility indicators was inefficient for the analyzed nutrients of both diets. Therefore, cellulose is the most suitable indicator for digestibility evaluation in Nile tilapia.

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Awassi lambs and Shami goat kids fed yeast culture in their finishing diet

As meat-producing livestock, sheep are a benchmark for communities seeking quality and healthy meat. The CYP2A6 gene has emerged as a potential tool for improving lamb meat quality. This study investigated the genetic variability of the CYP2A6 gene and its association with key determinants of lamb meat quality. The research involved 140 male sheep from five breeds: Javanese thin-tail sheep (JTTS), Garut sheep (GS), Jonggol sheep (JS), Barbados cross sheep (BCS), and Compass agrinak sheep (CAS). PCR-RFLP was employed to identify CYP2A6|BsmAI gene polymorphism and the general linear model (GLM) was used to analyze the gene's association with meat quality. The results showed a polymorphism in the CYP2A6 gene (SNP g.49170107 G&gt;T), presenting two genotypes: GG and GT. The analysis results demonstrated that the CYP2A6 gene (P&lt;0.05) significantly correlates with carcass characteristics (live weight, hot carcass weight, carcass percentage, cold carcass weight), commercial cuts, physical meat quality, and cholesterol content. The GT genotype exhibited superior meat quality to the GG genotype, suggesting that the CYP2A6 gene could serve as a valuable genetic marker for enhancing lamb meat quality.

‘Rotatinuous’ stocking as a climate-smart grazing management strategy for sheep production

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing oat hay with coffee husk in the diet of lambs on the intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The experimental design was 4×4 Latin square with four levels of replacement of oat hay with coffee husk (0, 7.5, 15, and 22.5%) with four individually housed Texel sheep. Intake and apparent digestibility coefficients were measured at four periods of 12 days. All orts and feces were collected, weighed, homogenized, and sampled. The use of coffee husk at up to 22.5% of the total DM in the diet of lambs improved the intake of nutrients. Except for NDF, no significant differences were observed for the apparent digestibility of other parameters (DM, OM, CP, EE, NFC, and the ADF). Coffee husk can be included at up to 22.5% of total dry matter in diets with 30% roughage and 70% concentrate, being a good alternative to reduce feed costs in lamb production.

Effects of feeding Atriplex halimus L. on growth performance and carcass characteristics of fattening Awassi lambs

The effect of partial replacement of barley grains by Prosopis juliflora pods on growth performance, nutrient intake, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of Awassi lambs fed finishing diets

The study aimed to investigate the effects of slaughter age and gender on carcase characteristics and meat quality of native Mexican turkeys raised under an extensive production system. Forty-five native turkeys (36 males and 9 females) were used. They were sacrificed at 24, 32, and 40 weeks of age. Slaughter age significantly affected slaughter weight (SW), hot carcase weight (HCW) and cold carcase weight (CCW). Also, dressing percentages, non-carcase components, internal organs, abdominal fat, and most carcase parts and proportions were affected. Gender significantly affected SW, HCW and CCW, non-carcase components, internal organs, and carcase parts weights. Regarding the physical properties of breast and leg meat, pH values and colour parameters taken at 45 min and 24 h post-mortem, as well as the water-holding capacity (WHC), cooking (CL), and drip loss (DL), were significantly affected by slaughter age, except CL in leg meat. Meanwhile, gender influenced L*45min, b*24h, the pH24h values, and CL in breast meat. Concerning the chemical composition of the meat, slaughter age had a significant effect on the ether extract (EE) content of breast meat and on dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), EE, ash, and energy contents of leg meat. Gender significantly affected the DM, CP, and energy contents of breast meat and DM, EE, and energy contents of leg meat. These results indicate that the carcase weight and yield, and its components, as well as meat quality, were better in older male turkeys than in adult females. HIGHLIGHTS Slaughter age and gender significantly influence carcase yield and composition and as well as meat quality in native Mexican turkeys raised under extensive traditional conditions. It is recommended that native turkeys be slaughtered at around 40 weeks to obtain more acceptable carcase yields and meat of better nutritional value. The native Mexican turkey is a viable poultry resource for ecological production systems.

&lt;p&gt;Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da substituição do feno de &lt;em&gt;Cynodon &lt;/em&gt;spp. por feno de resíduos da bananicultura nas características de carcaça e composição tecidual dos cortes comerciais de cordeiros Santa Inês terminados em confinamento. Utilizou-se 25 cordeiros, não castrados, com idade média de cinco meses, peso vivo inicial de 26,95 kg (± 1,5), distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos (1= 40% de feno &lt;em&gt;Cynodon &lt;/em&gt;spp. + 60% concentrado, 2= 20% de feno de folha de bananeira e 20% de feno de &lt;em&gt;Cynodon &lt;/em&gt;spp. + 60% concentrado, 3= 40% de feno de folha de bananeira + 60% concentrado, 4= 20% de feno de pseudocaule de bananeira e 20% de feno de Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrado, 5= 40% de feno de pseudocaule de bananeira + 60% concentrado) e cinco repetições. Os cordeiros foram abatidos aos 69 dias de experimentação. As variáveis avaliadas foram: peso vivo sem jejum (PVSJ), peso vivo com jejum (PVCJ), medidas morfométricas &lt;em&gt;in vivo &lt;/em&gt;e da carcaça, peso da carcaça quente e fria (PCQ, PCF), rendimento da carcaça quente e fria (RCQ, RCF), rendimento biológico e perda por resfriamento. As carcaças foram divididas em oito cortes comerciais, sendo o pernil, paleta e lombos dissecados em músculo, gordura e osso. Os animais alimentados com feno de pseudocaule apresentaram maior PVSJ, PVCJ, comprimento corporal, PCQ, PCF, entretanto, o RCQ, RCF, medidas morfométricas da carcaça, pesos e rendimentos dos cortes comerciais não foram alterados pelos tratamentos. O uso do feno de pseudocaule permite a obtenção de carcaças mais pesadas, entretanto, os coprodutos alteram as características e rendimento da carcaça e dos cortes comerciais avaliados.&lt;/p&gt;

Prosopis juliflora pods (PJP) are a source of raw energy and are a suitable meal for ruminants. The objective of this study is to assess the growth performance, nutrient intake, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of Black goat kids fed finishing diets replacing barley grains with PJP. For an 80-day feeding period, thirty-two weaned male kids (body weight = 16.8±0.91 kg; age = 110±3 days) were randomized to receive one of the four treatment diets. Experimental diets were 0 (CON), 10 (PJP10), 15 (PJP15), and 20 (PJP20), with all diets being similar in terms of metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP). Intake values were similar except for ether extract which was higher (P&lt;0.05) for the PJP20 group and acid detergent fiber which was higher (P&lt;0.05) for the PJP15 kids. Intakes of CP, organic matter (OM), dry matter (DM), and neutral detergent fiber were unaffected. The feed conversion ratio, average daily gain, and final live weight of the treatment groups were similar. With the ADF that was not different, results of digestibility were better (P&lt;0.05) for the PJP20 group but mostly not different from the control group. Regarding meat dressing-out % and carcass cuts and linear dimensions, hot and cold carcass weight, and fasting live weight, no variations were found across the treatment diets. The total lean % in racks was greater (P&lt;0.05) in the CON and PJP15 groups. The meat-to-bone ratio in racks and shoulders was the lowest (P&lt;0.05) in the PJP20 group compared to the other groups. This study highlighted the impacts of PJP on the growth of Black goat kids without having adverse effects on growth performance, carcass characteristics, or meat quality.