Effect of high-concentrate diets with calcium lignosulfonate and cottonseed processing method on quantitative traits and non-carcass components of feedlot cull ewes

Pablo Teixeira Viana,Lorena Santos Sousa,Jennifer Souza Figueredo,Hermógenes Almeida De Santana Júnior,Dallyson Yehudi Coura De Assis,Henry Daniel Ruiz Alba,Mirelle Costa Pignata Viana,Mauro Pereira De Figueiredo,Gleidson Giordano Pinto De Carvalho,Luís Gabriel Alves Cirne,Douglas Dos Santos Pina

doi:10.5194/aab-64-355-2021

Abstract

This study examined the effects of cottonseed processing form and the inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate in high-concentrate diets for feedlot cull ewes on carcass traits and non-carcass components. Thirty Santa Inês cull ewes with an average body weight of 44.2 5.2 kg and an average age of 50 months were distributed into collective stalls in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of diets including whole cottonseed, crushed cottonseed, whole cottonseed treated with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg, as fed), crushed cottonseed treated with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg, as fed), and a control diet without cottonseed. The experimental diets did not influence () average daily weight gain (0.195 kg/day), slaughter weight (51.74 kg), or in vivo biometric and on-carcass measurements. There was no difference () in loin-eye area or subcutaneous fat thickness as evaluated in vivo by ultrasound. There was no diet effect on hot carcass weight and yield (24.8 kg and 47.8 %), cold carcass weight and yield (24.2 kg and 46.8 %), or chilling loss (2.1 %). Non-carcass components did not differ in response to the diets (). Dietary inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate increases the proportions of udder and liver relative to empty body weight (). Neither the cottonseed processing method nor the inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate in high-concentrate diets for cull ewes affects their performance, biometric or morphometric measurements, non-carcass components, or qualitative traits of their carcass.

Highlights

A large portion of the sheep meat consumed in Brazil originates from adult animals, which are mostly culled
The use of cull animals has been a commonly adopted practice on farms that undertake the entire production cycle, as the sale of these animals is compromised by the low acceptability of their meat (Pelegrini et al, 2008)
There was no effect of calcium lignosulfonate inclusion or the cottonseed processing method on loin-eye area (LEA) or subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) measured on the carcass, whose mean values were found to be 15.6 cm2 and 0.88 mm, respectively (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

A large portion of the sheep meat consumed in Brazil originates from adult animals, which are mostly culled. The use of cull animals has been a commonly adopted practice on farms that undertake the entire production cycle, as the sale of these animals is compromised by the low acceptability of their meat (Pelegrini et al, 2008). They do not have the productive and reproductive potential expected of them (Atti et al, 2001). To increase the profitability of the activity, producers must plan a proper destination for these animals This is important for females, whose productive and reproductive potential is no longer satisfactory at an earlier age. Production can be maximized with the adoption of feedlotting, a technique that allows rapid weight gains and, as a consequence, better carcasses

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion