Lamb Production Research Articles

The effect of pasture molluscicide on small lungworm infections and the productivity of grazing lambs

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pasture molluscicide treatment on the prevalence and severity of small lungworm infections, and the productivity of lambs grazing improved pastures in southeastern Australia. A randomised control field trial of 260 Merino-cross lambs was conducted on a commercially managed farm in South Australia with a history of high small lungworm prevalence. Separate groups of lambs rotationally grazed irrigated lucerne paddocks treated with iron chelate molluscicide or untreated control paddocks. Lambs were monitored every 2–6 weeks from weaning until slaughter with liveweight, lungworm and gastrointestinal nematode infection status measured. At slaughter indicators of small lungworm infection via inspection and carcass characteristics were assessed. The density of the intermediate host snail and lucerne pasture availability were also measured. There was a higher population of adult Prietocella barbara molluscs in the Control paddocks compared to the Treatment paddocks after molluscicide had been applied and prior to grazing commencing (206 vs. 14 snails/m2, respectively; P = 0.03; 95 % CI 8, 528). However, the overall mollusc density was similar between Control and Treatment. The prevalence of small lungworm infections was quite low during the trial (0–13 %), in both Control and Treatment lambs, except at day 94 when 48 % of 28 Control lambs were positive compared to none of 27 Treatment lambs (P < 0.001; 95 % CI 30, 66). A similar proportion of Treatment and Control lambs had evidence of small lungworm infection lesions at slaughter (both 67.8 %). Control lambs grew slightly faster than Treatment lambs, with an average daily gain of 202 (± 3 SEM) g/head/day for Control and 190 (± 4 SEM) for Treatment (P < 0.001) during the 112-day trial.Despite historic evidence of very high prevalence of lungworm infection in this region of southeastern Australia, iron chelate molluscicide treatment prior to lambs grazing the pasture had no demonstrable effect on the prevalence and severity of small lungworm infections, nor the productivity of lambs grazing these pastures. This study indicates that for a commercial sheep farm, additional molluscicide treatments of pastures after they are established, for the prevention of small lungworm infection, may not be warranted. Furthermore, requirements for more precisely monitoring snails are discussed.

Seasonal influence of snow conditions on Dall's sheep productivity in Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve.

Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli) are endemic to alpine areas of sub-Arctic and Arctic northwest America and are an ungulate species of high economic and cultural importance. Populations have historically experienced large fluctuations in size, and studies have linked population declines to decreased productivity as a consequence of late-spring snow cover. However, it is not known how the seasonality of snow accumulation and characteristics such as depth and density may affect Dall's sheep productivity. We examined relationships between snow and climate conditions and summer lamb production in Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska over a 37-year study period. To produce covariates pertaining to the quality of the snowpack, a spatially-explicit snow evolution model was forced with meteorological data from a gridded climate re-analysis from 1980 to 2017 and calibrated with ground-based snow surveys and validated by snow depth data from remote cameras. The best calibrated model produced an RMSE of 0.08 m (bias 0.06 m) for snow depth compared to the remote camera data. Observed lamb-to-ewe ratios from 19 summers of survey data were regressed against seasonally aggregated modelled snow and climate properties from the preceding snow season. We found that a multiple regression model of fall snow depth and fall air temperature explained 41% of the variance in lamb-to-ewe ratios (R2 = .41, F(2,38) = 14.89, p<0.001), with decreased lamb production following deep snow conditions and colder fall temperatures. Our results suggest the early establishment and persistence of challenging snow conditions is more important than snow conditions immediately prior to and during lambing. These findings may help wildlife managers to better anticipate Dall's sheep recruitment dynamics.

Costs, income and economic efficiency of dairy sheep flocks

Article Details: Received: 2020-10-12 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.98-101 The objective of this study was to analyse costs and incomes from milk/cheese and lamb production in dairy sheep flocks and to evaluate their economic efficiency by calculating the profit/loss that is expressed as the difference between these two economic indicators. Costs were calculated taking into account their individual item structure, revenues were calculated taking into account sales of milk/cheese and lamb production. The analysis included three-year period i.e. years 2017, 2018 and 2019. The object of investigations were twelve and thirteen dairy sheep flocks per year, respectively. Economic indicators were expressed in Eur per feeding day (costs) and/or in Eur per ewe and year (costs, sales, subsidies, profit/loss). Milk and lamb sales did not cover up costs spent on production and accounting for subsidy improved economic efficiency of dairy sheep only to a lower extent. Sheep farming thus produced with the loss. Across years, milk and lamb sales almost unchanged, whereas costs notably increased. No ability to cover up costs with revenues could become an obstacle for further survival of this livestock sector. The increase of both milk yield and lamb production is therefore needed. Keywords: small ruminants, expences, revenues, profit/loss References de Rancourt , M. et al. (2006). Mediterranean sheep and goats production: An uncertain future. Small Ruminant Research , 62, 167–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.08.012 Eurostat. (2016). Livestock population in livestock units by type EU-28. Retrieved October, 2, 2020 from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database FAOSTAT. (2019). Food and agricultural data. Retreived October 2, 2020 from http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data Gunlu, A. et al. (2003). Relationship between average milk production costs and some selected technical and socio-economic factors surrounding dairy herds. Indian Journal Animal Sciences , 73(10), 1159–1162. Krupova, Z. et al. (2012). Review of methodologies for costs calculating of ruminants in Slovakia. Jornal of Central European of Agriculture , 13(3), 426–445. https://doi.org/0.5513/JDEA01/13.3.1068 Krupova, Z. et al. (2013). Economics of dairy sheep breeding in the year 2011. Agromagazine , 15(1), 12–13. Krupova, Z. et al. (2014). Impact of variation in production traits, inputs costs and product prices on profitability in multi-purpose sheep. Spanish Jornal of Agricultural Research , 12(4), 902–912. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2014124-6166 Michalickova, M. et al. (2014). Determinants of economic efficiency in dairy cattle and sheep. Slovak Jornal of Animal Science , 47(1), 39–50. Milan, M. J. et al. (2014). Cost structure and profitability of Assaf dairy sheep farms in Spain. Journal of Dairy Science , 97, 5239–5249. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-7884 Oravcova, M. and Peskovicova, D. (2008). Genetic nad environmental trends for milk production trends in sheep estimated with test-day model. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science , 21(8), 1088–1096. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2008.70700 Oravcova, M. et al. (2020). Costs in dairy sheep flocks in the year 2019. Agromagazine , 22(10), 10. Pamukova, D. and Momchilov, H. (2017). Analysis of revenues and production costs of dairy sheep farms. Trakia Journal of Sciences , 15(Suppl. 1), 277–281. https://doi.org/10.15547/tjs.2017.s.01.050 Trubacova, A. et al. (2019). Costs of agricultural products in the Slovak Republic in 2018. Bratislava: National Agricultural and Food Centre-RIEAF. Tzouramani, I. et al. (2011). An assessment of of the economic performance of organic dairy sheep farming in Greece. Livestock Science , 141, 136–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2011.05.010

Calm Hu ram lambs assigned by temperament classification are healthier and have better meat quality than nervous Hu ram lambs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of temperament classification (assessed using an arena test) on health and productivity of Hu ram lambs. In experiment one, eight ram lambs classified as calm and eight classified as nervous (selected from 100 ram lambs) were fed individually for 60-days to compare food intake, food digestibility, weight gain, and biochemical indices of health. In experiment two, nine ram lambs classified as calm and nine classified as nervous (selected from 150 ram lambs) were fed in a group and slaughter traits, meat quality, and muscle histology were compared. Calm lambs had higher dry matter digestibility, lower serum TNF-α, higher total antioxidant capacity, higher total superoxide dismutase activity, higher dressing percentage, higher cross-sectional area of loin, higher myofibre density, lower ultimate pH of the meat, and higher meat redness, than nervous lambs. Selection for calm temperament could be beneficial to health, slaughter, and carcass traits in Hu ram lambs.

Determination of the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and S. aureus in meat products by Real-Time PCR and testing their antibiotic susceptibility

From a public health point of view meat products contain high pathogenic risk factors. This is because they can be contaminated with Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus microorganisms, and, more importantly, antibiotic resistance has been reported in these microorganisms at an increasing frequency. To examine the presence of Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus in samples of raw and semi-cooked (chicken doner, meat doner, chicken, beef, and lamb products) meat from markets of Izmir and Balikesir, Turkey were analysed. The presence of microorganisms in the samples was determined by Real-Time PCR method using Salmonella spp. and S. aureus specific primers. Following Real-Time PCR, microorganisms were isolated by selective culture methods and biochemical tests from the positive meat samples and tested for their antibiotic susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method. The antibiotic disc diffusion method showed that S. aureus was resistant to penicillin G, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ampicillin, whereas Salmonella spp. was resistant to penicillin G, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, and ampicillin. As these products are consumed frequently, their contamination with S. aureus (≥ 5 × 103 cfu/g) and Salmonella spp. can be a risk factor for food poisoning. The contamination of meat products’ with S. aureus and Salmonella spp. can be a risk factor for public health and the antibiotics to be preferred in illness treatment are of critical importance.

Utilising dual-purpose crops to produce prime lambs: comparison of White Dorper and Merino sheep on crops and pasture

Context Dual-purpose crops (for grazing and grain) are an important part of the feedbase in mixed farming systems in the medium-rainfall zone of southern Australia. On these farms, non-wool sheep breeds such as the Dorper may provide an opportunity to increase lamb production while reducing labour costs compared with traditional sheep breeds. Aims This study was designed to compare lamb production systems based on White Dorper and Merino ewes joined to a terminal sire, while exploiting a feedbase that included dual-purpose crops. Methods Two experiments were conducted at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, during 2013 (Expt 1) and 2014 (Expt 2). In February in both experiments, White Dorper ewes were joined to either White Dorper or White Suffolk rams (lambs designated DD and WSD, respectively), and Merino ewes were joined to White Suffolk rams (lambs designated WSM). In Expt 1 a dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop was established and the paddock subdivided into nine plots (0.93 ha each). Pregnant ewes were allocated to plots on the basis of genotype (DD, WSD or WSM grazing separate plots) after blocking for number of fetuses identified at mid-pregnancy scanning, with three replicates based on genotype. Lambing commenced on 28 June, and ewes grazed the crop from 27 June to 14 August and then continued to graze in the same groups on a lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)–clover (Trifolium spp.) pasture subdivided into nine plots (2.1 ha), maintaining the same replicates until weaning on 2 October. In Expt 2, the cropping paddock was subdivided into six plots (1.86 ha each) sown to either dual-purpose wheat or canola (Brassica napus L.), with three replicates. Lambing commenced on 13 July. Merino and White Dorper ewes grazed the crops concurrently from 19 June to 12 August, and then lucerne–clover pasture until weaning on 29 September. In both experiments a mineral supplement was fed to ewes grazing wheat during the crop-grazing period. Key results Feed on offer was low (0.33 t/ha) in dual-purpose wheat crops at the start of grazing in Expt 1 and did not differ among genotypes at the cessation of grazing crops. Feed on offer was higher in wheat than canola at the commencement of grazing in Expt 2 (2.6 vs 2.3 t/ha; P = 0.009), and a higher stocking rate was maintained on wheat than canola from the start of lambing. White Dorper ewes maintained a higher body condition score than Merino ewes throughout both experiments. In Expt 2, some ewes had serum magnesium and calcium levels below the normal range, and a high number of ewes (20%) required assistance at lambing. Number of lambs weaned per ewe scanned pregnant was similar among genotypes in both experiments. WSD lambs were heaviest (P &lt; 0.05) at weaning and DD lambs had greatest (P &lt; 0.05) fat depth over the eye muscle at weaning. Conclusions and implications When grazed on a feedbase typical of mixed farms in the medium-rainfall zone of southern NSW, White Dorper ewes were in higher body condition than Merino ewes; however, reproductive rates were similar. Joining White Dorper ewes to a terminal sire may increase weaning weight of lambs compared with joining to a White Dorper ram, or a Merino maternal system.

Are there opportunities to improve lamb feedlot production efficiency? A cross-sectional survey

Context Feedlotting lambs has the potential to considerably increase the efficiency of lamb production in Australia. Many producers have turned to grain-finishing lambs to capitalise on high lamb prices and, due to the perceived profitability of this practice, further research to improve production has not been prioritised. Lambs are, however, difficult to adapt to a predominantly grain-based diet, often resulting in highly variable feed intake and growth rates. Aims The aim of this survey was to investigate the apparent growth rates and feed conversion ratios of lambs in current feedlotting enterprises. A secondary aim was to identify research priorities that could improve feedlot production efficiency. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and May 2020 among Australian lamb producers, with the target population being lamb producers using feedlots to finish lambs. Producer responses from 59 current lamb feedlotters were collated and analysed. Key results The most frequently reported growth rates were between 300 and 350 g/day, and most respondents reported a feed conversion ratio of 5:1. The incidence of shy feeders was a median of 3.5% and mortality was a median of 1%, with acidosis reported as the major contributor to mortality. Conclusions The results of the current survey indicate that for the majority of responding producers, lamb growth rates and feed conversion ratios are consistent with those predicted by the nutrient requirements of domesticated ruminants (CSIRO 2007), and improvements in production are unlikely without significantly increasing nutrient intake. Shy feeders, acidosis and the intake of lowly digestible feeds are the clear limitations to production efficiency. Implications Research to improve productivity of lambs in feedlots needs to prioritise the implementation of feeding strategies that minimise social and nutritional issues, and promote maximum intake of nutrients.

Output of meat and internal organs of local chicken sheep of karakalpakia

The article discusses the results of the formation of meat - greasy productivity of fat-tailed rams at the age of 20 months of different genotypes (hissars, local, hybrids) in the conditions of Karakalpakstan. Various products are obtained from sheep breeding - wool, mutton, astrakhan, milk, sheepskin and others, among which mutton is the most demanded and easily sold, therefore, in many countries of the world, 60-80% of income is received from mutton production. the implementation of complex studies to identify the most effective technologies for the production of high-quality lamb in the conditions of farms in different regions of Karakalpakia is of particular relevance.

Meat productivity and interior features of mongrel lambs (½ Kalmyk fat tailed + ½ Dorper) at intense feeding

The purpose of the study was to assess the efficiency of crossing the ewes of Kalmyk fat tailed breed with the rams of the Dorper breed to create a new genotype of the purebred sheep, as well as to assess the productive qualities and interior features of the first generation cross breed during intensive feeding in the conditions of the arid zone of Kalmykia. It was established that the crossbred rams have the best feed-efficiency by the body weight gain. In two months of feeding they consumed less dry matter per 1 kg of the body weight gain than the purebred animals by 2.11 kg, energetic feed unit (EFU) – by 2.17, exchange energy – by 21.67 MJ, crude protein – by 354.26 g. The cross breed of the experimental group showed a significantly higher content of total protein, alkaline phosphatase, AST and ALT enzymes transamination in the blood and serum during all periods of the study indicating the activation of redox processes in animals. The crossbred rams significantly surpassed their purebred herdmates in terms of preslaughter body weight by 11.07 kg, chilled carcass weight – by 5.37 kg, slaughter weight – by 5.18 kg, boneless meat weight in carcass – by 4.86 kg, loin eye area – by 3.54 cm2.

The size of the curl and lamb pelt productivity of Askanian karakul lambs

The size of the curl and lamb pelt productivity of Askanian karakul lambs

Effects of feeding system and CLA supplementation on animal, carcase and meat characteristics of fattened lambs and ewes

To promote local food products could be a valuable strategy for preserving autochthonous sheep breeds. A total of 115 lambs and ewes of local sheep breeds (Alpagota, Bogna, Foza and Lamon) of the Veneto region were used to evaluate the effect of different feeding systems on the production and quality of lambs and mutton meat. We carried out three fattening trials involving 24 ewes and their 31 suckling lambs, 24 weaned lambs, and 24 heavy lambs, fed indoor diets with or without a rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acids (rp-CLA) supplement (C18:2c9,t11 and C18:2t10,c12) to improve the nutritional value of the meat. Controls were a group of 12 pasture-fed weaned lambs. The weaned lambs at pasture had good fattening performances (33 kg live-weight at slaughter, 45% dressing percentage), whereas lambs fattened indoors on hay and some concentrates had lower weight (28 kg) and dressing percentages (41%), and require improvements to their feed. Feeding the animals on total mixed diets resulted in good in vivo and post mortem performances of culled ewes (64 kg slaughter weight, 48% dressing percentage), suckling lambs (21 kg, 50%) and heavy lambs (61 kg, 48%), showing that valuable supplies of lamb and mutton meat can be obtained across different seasons. Supplementing indoor diets with rp-CLA does not modify the animals’ performances nor the organoleptic traits of meat. Highlights Intensive indoor fattening allows to obtain suckling, weaned and heavy lambs and mutton from culled ewes all-year-round beyond the seasonal supplies of traditional feeding system. The supplementation of indoor diets with rp-CLA does not modify the animals’ performances, slaughter traits or meat organoleptic traits.

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ПРО– И ПРЕБИОТИЧЕСКИХ ПРЕПАРАТОВ ПРИ ВЫРАЩИВАНИИ ЯГНЯТ В МОЛОЧНЫЙ ПЕРИОД

One of the promising directions in this matter is the introduction of probiotic and prebiotic preparations into the diets of animals. The starting material for the scientific and economic experiment was ewes with lambs of the Stavropol breed, grown in a commercial economy. The purpose of the work is to study the effect of the probiotic preparation "BioPlus YC" and the prebiotic preparation "Kormomix MOS" both separately and jointly on the development and meat productivity of lambs of the Stavropol fine-wool breed. The results of the use of the probiotic preparation "BioPlus YC" and the prebiotic preparation "Kormomix MOS" in the cultivation of rams of the Stavropol breed up to 8 months of age are presented. Their positive influence on their development and meat productivity has been established. In terms of live weight, the significant advantage of the animals of the experimental groups over the control ones ranged from 5.6% to 12.2%. Experienced animals had the best meat qualities. Sheep II, III, IV of the experimental groups exceeded the control ones: - in terms of pre-slaughter weight, respectively, by 2.1 kg (5.9%), 1.86 kg (5.2%), 4.15 kg (111.8%); - by slaughter weight by 1.59 kg; (111.0%), 1.17 kg (108.1%), 3.35 kg (123.2%); - by slaughter yield by 1.96%, 1.07%, 4.18%. In the carcasses of experimental animals, compared with the control, there was a greater percentage of first-class cuts. The best coefficient of meat was in carcasses from lambs of groups III and IV, which amounted to 3.53 and 3.54, respectively, against 3.47 in the control. In terms of the cross-sectional area of the longest muscle of the back (the area of the muscular eye), the superiority was also in the experimental groups of animals, which amounted to 102.4-107.7% in relation to the control.

Welfare and meat quality of lambs

Recently, in many parts of the world, greater importance has been given to lamb meat as well as to the intensive production of lamb and sheep, due to demand for this type of meat at affordable prices. In Serbia, similar to most European countries, the structure of total sheep meat production comprises about 70% lamb meat and 30% sheep meat. This study assessed resource-based measures on 11 dairy sheep farms and investigated, in a total of 30 lambs, the effects of sex, the presence of bruises and pneumonia in carcasses, and carcass and meat quality. Carcass (carcass length, thigh length, croup width, subcutaneous fat thickness, presence of bruises) and meat quality (pH, temperature, drip, thawing and cooking losses, color, and meat quality classes) traits were measured post mortem. The most common deficiencies on farms were high stocking density, poor hygienic conditions, dirty drinkers, and lack of outdoor access. Regarding sex differences, higher prevalences of carcass bruises and severe pneumonia were recorded in male lambs. Meat pH (pH45min), sensory color score, and prevalence of dark, firm and dry (DFD) meat were higher in lambs with carcass bruises. The occurrence of quality defects (DFD meat) was higher in lambs with severe pneumonia. It can be concluded that it is necessary to improve the welfare conditions on the lamb farms and pre-slaughter conditions in order to achieve better lamb meat quality.

The effects of parasitism on ewes for prime lamb production in western Victoria

Context Internal parasites are estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry AUD436 million per annum (p.a.). Aims To assess the effects of parasitism in flocks producing prime lambs in the 500–700 mm p.a rainfall. area of Victoria. Methods Ewes on two farms that followed ‘best practice’ gastrointestinal parasite control programs (BP) and two farms that did not (regionally typical, TYP) were compared. Separate cohorts of ewes were monitored from pregnancy scanning to their subsequent joining each year for three consecutive seasons. Observations included worm egg count (WEC), bodyweight, condition score and presence of breech soiling (dag). These were compared between groups that were treated to suppress parasitism (SUP) and those treated according to the usual program used on that farm (NSUP). Data from individual ewes were analysed using a multivariable, mixed-effects regression model. Key results After adjusting for known confounders, SUP ewes were 1.2 (95% CI 0.80–1.6) kg heavier than NSUP ewes. Mature SUP ewes were significantly heavier than NSUP ewes at their next joining on 6 of 18 occasions, mostly following winters when ewes experienced nutritional stress. Ewe hoggets and Merino ewes were generally more susceptible to parasitism than mature non-Merino ewes; single-bearing ewes were less susceptible than those bearing twins. The effects of parasitism were reduced when peri-parturient ewes had an optimal condition score and grazed adequate pastures. Conclusions Ewes were more vulnerable to parasitism when immature, twin-bearing, or under nutritional stress. Some of the greatest differences between SUP and NSUP ewes occurred following periods of low feed availability and/or ewe condition score. The difference between the mean bodyweight of SUP and NSUP Merinos was not always greater than that of the non-Merinos. WECs are not a sole reliable indicator of the effects of parasitism in this class of sheep. Implications Immature or twin-bearing ewes, and those in suboptimal body condition, should be managed considering their increased vulnerability to parasitism, and WEC interpreted alongside other factors. Controlled release capsules were not cost effective in reducing production loss from gastrointestinal nematodes in most years but may be effective in reducing the effects of clinical parasitism in some cases.

Determination of suitable oestrus synchronization protocols of ewes for lamb production in coastal areas of Bangladesh

The aim of this study was to produce lambs through hormonal synchronization of oestrous cycle in 1.5 to >3.5 year-old ewes. From coastal region of Bangladesh, a total of 45 ewes were selected and grouped as treatment (n=30) and control (n=15) group. Based on synchronization protocol, the treatment group was again divided into sub-group A (n=15) and B (n=15). In subgroup A, the ewes were injected intramuscularly with 2 ml of Ovuprost(R) (PGF2α) 9 days apart from first injection whereas in sub-group B, the ewes were injected intramuscularly with 2.5 ml Ovurelin(R) (GnRH) once. Though, sub-group A showed higher oestrus (93.33%) than control (60%), the differences were not significant (p>0.05). The pregnancy rate in treatment group (80%) was significantly (p 0.05) different. The ewes between 2.6 and 3.5 yr aged showed comparatively higher oestrus and pregnancy than 1.5 to 2.5 and >3.5 yr. The mean litter size and average birth weight of lambs were 1.13±0.41, 1.46±0.31, 1.27±0.34 and 1.17±0.04, 1.32±0.03, 1.29±0.04 kg in control, sub-groups A and B, respectively. It was concluded that the hormonal synchronization of oestrous cycle in ewes of coastal region of Bangladesh increased pregnancy rate.

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ПРОИЗВОДСТВА БАРАНИНЫ ПРИ УБОЕ МЯСНОГО КОНТИНГЕНТА ОВЕЦ В РАЗНОМ ВОЗРАСТЕ

The results of the study of the infl uence of the age of slaughter of sheep at 6 and 8 months are presented. on the economic effi ciency of lamb production. When rearing and feeding rams up to 8 months of age, the feed costs per 1 kg of gain were 6.54 ECU and 746 g of digestible protein compared to 5.81 ECU and 640 g of digestible protein in rams grown up to 6 months of age. The level of profi tability of lamb production in animals sold at 6 months was 41.9%, and in sheep sold at 8 months of age-14.1%, which is 27.8% lower

Carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes in lambs reared indoors, on cultivated pasture, or on semi-natural pasture

This study evaluated the effects of different lamb production systems on live weight gain (LWG), carcass quality and meat quality. Four production systems for weaned intact male lambs were examined: indoor feeding with grass silage and concentrate (group 1), grazing on cultivated pasture with (group 2) or without (group 3) concentrate, and grazing on semi-natural pasture (group 4). Live weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, carcass conformation, fatness and pH decline were recorded at slaughter, and M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was analysed for colour, thawing and cooking loss, pH after 24 hours and 6 days, and Warner-Bratzler shear force. LWG was strongly affected by production system, being highest for group 1 and lowest for group 4 (p&lt;0.001). Group 4 had the lowest conformation (p=0.002) and fat scores (p&lt;0.001). Hence, production system affected age at slaughter, live weight gain, weight at slaughter, carcass conformation and fatness scores, but caused no differences in meat quality attributes in intact male lambs.

Growth, Carcass and Meat Characteristics of Grass-Fed Lambs Weaned from Extensive Rangeland and Grazed on Permanent Pastures or Alfalfa.

Simple SummaryMeat consumers are nowadays more conscious about the effects of fatty acids on health, preferring meat with low saturated fat content and high levels of omega-3. Grass-fed ruminants have been shown to produce a more desirable fatty acid composition than those that are grain fed. Our study evaluates different lamb finishing systems. Overall, better sensory attribute scores were detected for lambs slaughtered at weaning. Meat from the three lamb production systems studied achieved health claimable levels of omega-3 fatty acids, especially in lambs slaughtered at weaning. There were no differences between the three systems of production for juiciness, however lamb finished on pasture presented a lower flavor score than animals finished on alfalfa or those slaughtered at weaning. The low level of cholesterol found in the three systems studied, along with low levels of total fat and saturated fat, classified these meats as extra lean. Opportunities exist for both, sheep producers and the industry, to take advantage of a more balanced fatty acid composition and health attributes of lamb meat produced in extensive farming systems. Developing finishing strategies on pastoral based systems is crucial to improve production characteristics, such as growth and carcass yield, without compromising the nutritive value of meat.Western Patagonia lamb production systems are based on extensive rangeland. The harsh climate limits the adoption of more intensive systems. Therefore, producers must focus on developing differentiated products. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth patterns, carcasses and nutritive value of meat from 45 lambs. Lambs were divided into three groups: 15 lambs were slaughtered at weaning (W), with the remaining 30 weaned lambs being allocated to grazing either alfalfa (AG) or permanent pasture (PPG). AG lambs were significantly heavier and had higher condition scores than PPG lambs. Further, AG lambs showed higher carcass weight and larger tissue depth and commercial cuts. Moreover, W lambs had lower shear force and more tender meat than either AG or PPG lambs. The three systems showed a low shear force and acceptable sensory traits. Low levels of cholesterol, with low levels of saturated fat, classified these cuts of meat as extra lean. W lambs had higher omega-3 fatty acid content than AG or PPG lambs. Overall, results showed that meat from the three lamb production systems showed health claimable levels of omega-3 fatty acids and were low in fat and thereby, can be classified as lean meat.

Формирование оптимальных количественных и качественных показателей животноводческого сырья за счет использования новых кормовых добавок

Aim. Study of the influence of new feed additives on the formation of productivity and quality characteristics in the production of various types of raw materials of animal origin. Material and Methods. Zootechnical, biochemical and mathematical methods of analysis were used in the course of research. The obtained digital material was processed using method of variation statistics, considering the Student-t validation criteria, using the Microsoft Excel software package. Results. As a result of the research, the effectiveness of the use of new feed additives "CoreMix" and "Vitazar" in fattening Kalmyk young bulls has been proved. Over the period of the experiment, the absolute increase in live weight of animals of the I and II experimental groups, who received the tested feed additives, exceeded the control by 8.9 and 18.5 kg, while the feed consumption per 1 kg of the increase in live weight decreased by 0.4 and 0.7 EKE, profit from sales per head was higher by 696 and 1,690 rubles, and the level of profitability increased by 3.1 and 8.2%. The study of the regularities of the formation of beef obtained from young bulls of the Aberdeen Angus breed, when using the new probiotic supplement "Rodafen" in their diets, showed that at the end of feeding, at the age of 18 months, the pre-slaughter body weight in the control group was 463.9 ± 3.29 kg, whereas in the experimental groups that received the test supplement in different doses, this indicator was significantly higher by 3.7%, 4.7% and 3.9%, respectively. For the purposeful in vivo formation of optimal quality indicators of beef obtained from young bulls of the Kazakh white-headed breed, the efficiency of using extruded feed from insects of the Locusta migratoria (ELM) species has been proven. More heavy carcasses were obtained from the young bulls of the experimental group in comparison with their peers from the control group: the superiority in terms of pre-slaughter live weight was 5.8 kg, or 1.41% (P &lt;0.05), in terms of the weight of a fresh carcass – 5.6 kg, or 2.75% (P&lt;0.05). In terms of slaughter weight, the young bulls of the experimental group exceeded the control by 5.4 kg, or 2.53% (P &lt;0.05). In order to increase the energy of growth and meat productivity of the Simmental young bulls, the expediency of using new feed additives "Valopro" and "Ruprokol" has been proved. The introduction of these feed additives into the diet during the rearing period made it possible to obtain a live weight of 439 kg, one kilogram of which contains 403 g of muscle tissue and 429 g of edible parts of the carcass, which is 5-9% higher than in the control. It has been experimentally proven that when fattening large white pigs up to 100 and 120 kg of live weight, it is necessary to maintain the amino acid content at an optimal level by introducing synthetic amino acids, which provides an increase in live weight gain and a decrease in the age of fattening. For the purpose of the intravital formation of high-quality mutton obtained from the Edilbaev breed of rams in the arid Trans-Volga region, the expediency of using a new feed additive containing organic iodine, selenium and silicon in the diets of young sheep has been proven. To improve the quality of rabbit meat, the expediency of using new feed additives based on antioxidants and organic acids has been proven. Conclusion. The expediency of using new feed additives in the production of beef, pork, lamb and rabbit meat has been proven. The use of the proposed feed additives had a positive effect on the feed intake and digestibility of feed, the formation of optimal quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the raw materials obtained, and an increase in the profitability of production.

Growth rate, meat quality and fatty acids composition of “Agnello di Sardegna” PGI light lambs

The work aims to fill the knowledge gap on performance and meat quality of “Agnello di Sardegna” PGI light lambs. To this end fourteen male lambs, homogeneous for age and litter size and consisting of seven pure Sarda (S X S) and seven crossbred Ile de France x Sarda (IF X S) lambs were compared for growth rate, dressing-out percent, chemical composition, fatty acids (FA) composition of Longissimus lumborum muscle and some nutritional indexes. Lambs suckled and followed their mothers at pasture until slaughtering at17±3 kg Live Weight and 50±1 days old, (means±s.d). The SXS lambs showed higher content of some healthy fatty acids (EPA) and better values of some nutritional indexes (Thrombogenic and Ipo-ipercholesterolemic index). The effect of litter size was more pronounced than sire effect, affecting both chemical and FA composition of light lambs. The single lambs showed higher branched chain fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acid, CLA and other healthy fatty acids (DPA, DHA, omega 3 polyunsatured fatty acids) content. Overall, the value of nutritional indexes highlighted the high nutritional quality of light lamb meat. The results do not seem to justify the use of specialized meat breed as Ile de France for light lamb production, the short period between birth and slaughter not allowing the crossbred lambs to show their greater potential for muscle development. The high CLA content together with fatty acids considered beneficial for consumer health (DPA, DHA) in meat of single light lambs is a result to take into account in a meat production system aimed at high quality.