Abstract
Simple SummaryInclusion of local agro–industrial by-products as alternatives to cereal-based concentrates is a promising solution with an increased usage in the area. In this study layer litter is included at 0, 150, or 300 g/kg in the diets of growing lambs. Except with minor effects on carcass characteristics for lambs fed layer liter at 150 g/kg, the inclusion of layer liter did not affect carcass characteristics and meat quality.Carcass parameters and meat quality in lambs that consumed diets having layer hen litter (LL) were evaluated in a complete randomized study. Forty-two lambs were allocated equally (14 lambs/treatment diet) into one of three iso-nitrogenous diets for 75 days. To partially replace soybean meal and barley, LL was given at 0 (LL0), 150 (LL150), or 300 g/kg (LL300) of dietary dry matter (DM). At the termination of the trial, the characteristics of carcasses (hot and cold carcass weight, dressing percentage, and carcass cuts) and meat quality (Musculus longissimus linear dimensions, ultimate pH, cooking loss, water holding capacity (WHC), shear force (SF), color coordinates) were measured after slaughtering all lambs. Longissimus muscle weight was greatest (p < 0.05) for the LL150. For the dissected loin, intermuscular fat content was lowest for the LL0 diet. However, subcutaneous fat content was lower (p < 0.05) in the LL300 diet than LL0 and LL150 diets. Rib fat depth and Musculus longissimus area were greater (p < 0.05) for LL150 than L0. No differences were found in meat pH or color parameters among treatments but WHC and SF were lower in L0 lambs than in lambs fed LL containing diets. Cooking loss was greater for the LL300 diet than the LL0 diet. In summary, quality of meat and carcasses data indicate the possibility of inclusion of LL up to 300 g/kg DM to growing Awassi lambs.
Highlights
A good approach to measure the productivity of slaughtering animals is by estimating the efficiency of production
Obeidat et al [6] reported that growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality was not affected when broiler litter was included in the diets of lambs at 0, 100, or 200 g/kg dry matter (DM)
DM intake, final body weight, and average daily gain were greater in lambs fed diets containing layer hen litter (LL) at 150 g/kg DM compared with the lambs fed LL at 0 g/kg DM, whereas in lambs fed LL at 300 g/kg DM, results were intermediate
Summary
A good approach to measure the productivity of slaughtering animals is by estimating the efficiency of production. Almost 70% of the cost of red meat production is associated with diet ingredients, which alerts the necessity to use unconventional feed ingredients in order to mitigate the Animals 2019, 9, 782; doi:10.3390/ani9100782 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals. Feed sources available for ruminants during the dry season are of low quality and have low protein content in Jordan and worldwide [2]. Noland et al [4] were among the first to investigate the potential for using broiler litter as a nitrogen source for sheep. Obeidat et al [6] reported that growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality was not affected when broiler litter was included in the diets of lambs at 0, 100, or 200 g/kg dry matter (DM). The effects of feeding LL on characteristics of carcasses and quality of meat are still essential to investigate
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