Abstract
Abstract. The objective of this study was to determine the effect on goat kids of supplementation with protein–xanthophyll concentrate (PX) obtained from alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Assessments were made on carcass dressing percentage and the lipid profiles of muscle tissue. When the animals reached 30 days old (the start of the fattening period), they were allocated to two feeding groups: a control group (K), which received a standard concentrate diet, and an experimental group (D), which was fed a modified control diet where 3 % of the soybean meal was replaced with an alfalfa protein–xanthophyll preparation (PX). For the rest of the study the kids had ad libitum access to dam milk, hay and their respective diets. After 90 days of rearing (from the end of the fattening period up to when the kids were approximately 120 days of age), five (male) kids were randomly selected from each group and slaughtered. Overall, PX supplementation in goat kids does not affect any parameters of fattening, such as slaughter weight, daily weight gains or dressing percentage. However, beneficial effects of feeding with PX concentrate were found in a higher loin percentage and improved tissue composition resulting from lower fat tissue content. Moreover the PX dietary supplement improved the chemical composition of the muscle tissue by increasing the content of protein and unsaturated fatty acids. Taken together, our results suggest that supplementing the fattening diet for goat kids with the PX preparation did not affect the quantitative parameters of fattening but had a positive influence on the quality of carcass composition.
Highlights
In the production of food animals, raw meat quality largely depends on the type and quality of feed as well as supplements added to the feed (Thacker, 2013; Grela and Kowlaczuk, 2007)
After 90 days of fattening, there was a higher body weight in the kids fed the diet supplemented with 3 % alfalfa protein–xanthophyll concentrate (PX) compared to the control group (26.5 and 25.7 kg, respectively), but it was not statistically significant
PX supplementation in goat kids does not affect any parameters of fattening such as slaughter weight, daily weight gains or dressing percentage
Summary
In the production of food animals, raw meat quality largely depends on the type and quality of feed as well as supplements added to the feed (Thacker, 2013; Grela and Kowlaczuk, 2007). Particular attention has been paid to plant-derived preparations containing phytochemicals with nutraceutical properties. One such preparation is a protein–xanthophyll concentrate (PX) obtained from alfalfa (Medicago sativa). 55–60 % general protein with a rich amino acid composition, high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and xanthophyllous natural yellow dye (1200–2200 mg d−3) (Grela and Pietrzak, 2014). The concentrate has a high chlorophyll content, absorbable iron and other important mineral components indispensable for the proper functioning of physiological processes
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