Abstract
The aim of this research was to evaluate carcass traits and meat quality of finishing lambs in pastures with different leaf area index with or without high protein-mineral supplementation. In this study, forty-eight young Santa Ines rams were used, with an average initial body weight of 13.5 kg and an average age of 4 months. For approximately 10 h a day, the animals had access to pastures comprised of Cynodon spp cultivar Tifton 85. In vivo measurements, including body length, anterior and posterior heights, chest perimeter, rump and thoracic widths, were evaluated. Based on the data in this study, providing supplements for sheep improved the carcass composition as increased hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, empty body weight, carcass yield, external and internal carcass lengths and thoracic depth. Moreover, supplementation increased slaughter weight, which accounts for the largest portion of the producer’s profitability. Although the use of supplements increases production costs, it also improved quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the meat, which could satisfy the consumer market. The meat from supplemented animals had a lower atherogenicity index compared to the control suggesting the meat from supplemented lambs is healthier to be consumed.
Highlights
The largest share of sheep meat consumers looks for a product derived from young animals, five to six months of age, with carcasses weighing from 13 to 15 kg
The physical and chemical analyses were performed at São Paulo State University at the Laboratory of Technology of Animal Products and the classification of Longissimus lumborum muscle fibers were conducted at the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Department of Animal Morphology
Supplementation increased EBW, chest circumference and width compared to the control group (p≤0.05)
Summary
The largest share of sheep meat consumers looks for a product derived from young animals, five to six months of age, with carcasses weighing from 13 to 15 kg. Because of its high-speed growth, the lamb is the animal model that has the greatest production efficiency, resulting in improved carcass dressing and meat quality (Pires et al, 2000). This model, generally associated with feedlot systems, allows maximum weight gain potential during the young age phase. Finishing sheep on pasture, combined with the use of multiple supplements, provides satisfactory body weight gains with lower costs
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