Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate mesquite extract as a phytogenic additive or supplementation for improving nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, physical composition, and meat quality in finished sheep on rangeland. The experiment was conducted in a Caatinga rangeland composed of herbaceous, shrub, and tree species. Santa Ines × Dorper F1 crossbred lambs (n=24) were used, with an average initial body weight of 23.1 ± 1.83 kg. A completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of supplementation and phytogenic additive was used. Lambs had access to pasture with Caatinga vegetation from 07:00h to 17:00h and then were collected and kept in individual pens. Treatments consisted of four diets: supplementation (non-supplemented or supplemented) and phytogenic additive (not administered or administered). Supplementation consisted of Tifton 85 hay, corn meal, soybean meal and mineral salt offered at 1% of body weight. The additive consisted of 600 mg/mL mesquite pods (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC) provided orally (6 mL/day) to each group receiving the additive. The additive was prepared and administered fresh each day of the feeding period. The phytogenic additive and supplementation increased nutrient digestibility, carcass weight, performance, commercial cuts, external carcass measurements, leg weight, and femoral muscles (p<0.05). Supplementation increased nutrient intake (p<0.05). No differences were observed among treatments (p>0.05) for meat quality parameters. Administration of a phytogenic additive or supplementation are recommended to improve nutrient digestibility, carcass weight, animal performance, commercial cuts, external carcass measurements, leg weight, and femoral muscles in Santa Ines × Dorper F1 crossbred sheep finished on rangeland.
Published Version
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