Effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride and soybean oil supplementation on physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat from hair lambs

Effect of age and diet on carcass and meat quality in ewes

This study elucidated the effect of age and diet on carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters of Rambouillet ewes. Forty ewes (n = 20 yearling ewes and n = 20 cull ewes) were fed with alfalfa hay (AH) or a 100 % concentrate diet (CD). Treatments were: a) 10 cull ewes were fed only with AH, b) 10 yearling ewes were fed only with AH, c) 10 cull ewes were fed with CD, d) 10 yearling ewes were fed with CD. Productive performance, carcass and meat quality were analyzed. Animals had ten days for adaptation and 35 days were used to collect data. Dry matter intake was greater (P < 0.05) for CD. Feed conversion rates were not affected by treatments. The pH at 45 min and 24 h, carcass length, leg length, leg width, thorax width, and thorax perimeter were not affected by treatments. Hot carcass weight was heavier (P < 0.05) in cull ewes, cold carcass weight was increased (P < 0.05) with CD. Carcass yield (CY) was heavier in CD (P < 0.05). Cull ewes had greater (P < 0.05) lean CIELAB L*, a*, b*, c*, and h* values compared to yearling ewes. The color changes increased with age at five days (P < 0.05), but a decrease (P < 0.05) with diet was observed at ten days. Cathepsins B, B + L, and Lowry protein content were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, feeding cull ewes with concentrate diets may enhance body weight gain and carcass yield compared to a diet based on 100 % alfalfa hay.

Influence of ferulic acid and clinoptilolite supplementation on growth performance, carcass, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of finished lambs

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ferulic acid (FA) and clinoptilolite (CTL) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of hair-breed lambs. Twenty-eight Kathadin male lambs (33.72 ± 3.4 kg) were randomly allocated to one of the four diets (n=7) under a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to evaluate the effect of FA (0 or 300 ppm) and CTL (0% or 1%) during the last 40 days of the finishing phase. No interaction between additives was shown for growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality, with exception of the fatty acid profile (p < 0.05). FA reduced feed intake and carcass conformation (p < 0.05). Wholesale cuts were not affected by FA or CTL (p > 0.05). The L*, a*, and C* color parameters and some intramuscular fatty acids of the longissimus thoracis muscle were positively modified by CTL supplementation (p < 0.05). While there was no FA × CTL interaction, each additive could be used individually in animal nutrition to improve the feedlot performance and meat quality of the lambs.

The texture and mastication properties of sheep biceps femoris from different finishing feeds and retail packaging methods

This study investigated the relationship between meat texture (Warner Bratzler shear force and Texture Profile Analysis), water holding capacity and subsequent mastication of meat from sheep fed different diets and maintained under different packaging methods. Biceps femoris from 24 Merino sheep fed a standard pelleted diet containing grain and cereal hay or pelleted diets supplemented with either 8% camelina meal or 15% camelina forage hay was packaged in high oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (hiOxMAP) or vacuum skin packaging (VSP). Warner Bratzler shear force, texture profile analysis and water holding capacity (purge loss and cooking loss) were measured. Twelve volunteers were recruited to chew the cooked meat samples before expectorating the bolus at their natural swallowing point. Meat stored in hiOxMAP had greater purge loss, Warner Bratzler peak force, hardness, and chewiness compared to meat packed in VSP. Mastication testing revealed that chewing frequency increased with VSP meat compared to hiOxMAP meat. Feed type had little effect on meat texture parameters, however, sheep meat on the standard pelleted diet required a greater number of chews than sheep fed on camelina. Increased toughness in cooked meat due to feed type or packaging methods results in greater chewing effort, but this did not affect meat bolus properties at the natural swallowing point. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effects of dietary ferulic acid on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of heifers

BACKGROUND

Ferulic acid is a natural occurring compound with antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive properties, and recently was proposed as a new alternative growth promoter in meat-producing animals without changing meat quality parameters. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two doses of ferulic acid (FA) on the feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat quality in commercial heifers. Ninety heifers (3/4 Bos taurus; n = 270; body weight = 480 ± 10 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (30 days): Control, fed with a basal diet; FA250 or FA500 offered the same diet further supplemented with FA at 250 or 500 mg kg^-1 feed, respectively. Feedlot performance, carcass traits, and physicochemical and meat sensory characteristics were evaluated.

RESULTS

FA supplementation increased average daily gain (ADG) by 21%, hot carcass weight by 1.8% and cold carcass weight by 1.6% with respect to the control (P < 0.05). FA500 treatment caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in some carcass traits. However, carcass characteristics of economic importance, such as cold carcass dressing and LT muscle area, were improved by FA250 supplementation (P < 0.05), causing a possible growth promoter effect. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of meat were not altered by FA supplementation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ferulic acid has the potential for use as a growth promoter additive in finishing heifers without negatively affecting the meat quality, as occurs with some synthetic growth promotants compounds used in animal production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Growth, carcass characteristics, cut yields and meat quality of lambs finished with zilpaterol hydrochloride and steroid implant

Forty hairbreed male lambs were used to evaluate the effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH, 0 and 0.15 mg/kg BW) and steroid implant (SI, without and with 52.5 mg trenbolone acetate and 7.5 mg 17β-estradiol) on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, non-carcass components, wholesale cut yield, and meat quality. Supplemental ZH increased growth rate, feed efficiency, carcass weight, and dressing percentage, with no effect on wholesale cut yields. Feeding ZH increased muscle pH at 24 h. Supplemental ZH increased meat shear force, but decreased lightness, redness, and yellowness after frozen storage followed by a 14-day aging period. The SI administration increased dressing percentage and neck yield, but decreased testicle weight and meat redness, without affecting other variables. The LT area was greater with ZH + SI administration than with individual application of ZH or SI. Compared to individual administration, simultaneous application of ZH and SI did not result in improved growth performance, carcass traits and wholesale cut yields in hairbreed male lambs.

Supplementation with plant-derived oils rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for lamb production

In this report, an overview of the health benefits of omega-3 long-chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) and recent progress in using alpha linolenic acid (ALA) rich sources derived from oilseeds to enhance productive performance, n-3 PUFA profiles and sensory properties of lamb for human consumption is reviewed. Omega-3 LC-PUFA can prevent mental health issues and chronic human disorders including cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. The median amount of n-3 LC-PUFA consumption is generally lacking in Western diets. More attention is now being paid to the use of innovative nutritional strategies to improve PUFA content in ruminants, which could subsequently increase the content of health-benefitting n-3 LC-PUFA for human consumption. The richest sources of dietary n-3 LC-PUFA are derived from marine products, while forage and oilseeds such as flaxseed, canola, and their oils are abundant in ALA. Numerous studies have shown that dietary ALA increases n-3 LC-PUFA levels of edible tissues. However, other studies concluded that ALA rich supplementation led to no differences in tissue FA profiles because of extensive biohydrogenation of dietary ALA, limited conversion from ALA to n-3 LC-PUFA and low incorporation of n-3 LC-PUFA into edible tissues. Generally, the inclusion of ALA rich sources in lamb diets potentially increases ALA content in lamb. It is proposed that supplementing ruminants with ALA-rich sources at or below 6% can promote n-3 PUFA profiles in lamb and is unlikely to have negative effects on feed intake, growth, carcass and sensory properties.

Fatty acid composition and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of meat from ewe lambs supplemented with zilpaterol hydrochloride and soybean oil

The effects of supplementation of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH; 0 or 10 mg/lamb daily) and soybean oil (SBO; 0% or 6%) on carcass traits, body fat deposition, chemical, physicochemical, sensory quality, and fatty acid composition of the longissimus thoracis muscle (LTM) of ewe lambs were studied using a randomised complete design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. After a 32-day feeding period, all ewes were slaughtered and LTM collected. Interactions between ZH × SBO were not observed (P > 0.05) for any of the variables evaluated. Feedlot performance was not modified (P > 0.05) by ZH and SBO supplementation. Biological yield and hot carcass weight were increased by ZH supplementation (P < 0.05). ZH and SBO supplementation did not alter body fat deposition (kidney, pelvic and heart, renal, thickness and intramuscular fat) and the empty bodyweight (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, feeding ZH decreased colour parameters (L*, a*, b* and CHROMA) (P < 0.05), but not others characteristics of LTM (P > 0.05). Sensory panelists observed an increase in appearance (P < 0.001) by ZH supplementation. Additionally, ZH decreased (P < 0.05) the content of C20:5n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid), C22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) and total omega-3 fatty acids, compared with the zero ZH group. Physicochemicals and sensory characteristics, and fatty acid composition of meat were not modified by SBO (P > 0.05). In conclusion, ZH supplementation to ewe lambs increased biological yield and hot carcass weight, without changes in body fat deposition and decreased eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and omega-3 contents and caused a decrease in colour of LTM. However, feeding SBO caused no changes in the carcass or meat quality traits and minimal changes in fatty acid composition of LTM.

Feedlot performance and carcass traits of hairbreed ewe lambs in response to zilpaterol hydrochloride and soybean oil supplementation

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH; 0 or 10 mg/lamb daily) and soybean oil (SBO; 0 or 6%) supplementation on feedlot performance, carcass traits, and wholesale cut yield of 32 Dorper × Pelibuey ewe lambs (30.55 ± 2. 57 kg of initial BW). Lambs were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to treatments under a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. After a 34-d feeding period, all ewes were slaughtered. No ZH × SBO interactions were detected (P ≥ 0.11) for the variables evaluated. In the overall feeding period and first 17 d of experiment, feedlot performance was not affected (P ≥ 0.26) by ZH supplementation, but from d 18 to 34, ZH increased (P ≤ 0.03) total gain, ADG, and G:F without affecting DMI (P = 0.58). Also, ZH increased (P ≤ 0.02) HCW, cold carcass weight, dressing percentage, LM area, and leg perimeter. Lung weight as percentage of final BW decreased (P = 0.05) whereas other noncarcass components and wholesale cut yields were not affected (P ≥ 0.06) by ZH supplementation. Inclusion of SBO did not affect (P ≥ 0.08) feedlot performance or wholesale cut yields. The LM pH at 24 h postmortem as well as liver and peritoneum percentages were decreased (P ≤ 0.05) by SBO supplementation, but no other carcass characteristics or noncarcass components were affected (P ≥ 0.08) by SBO. In conclusion, feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were not altered by the interaction of ZH × SBO. However, ZH alone increased the growth of ewes during the last 17 d of the feeding period. Likewise, carcass characteristics of economic importance (i.e., HCW, dressing percentage, LM area, and leg perimeter) increased with ZH supplementation. In general, feedlot performance, carcass traits, and wholesale cut yields were not altered by including 6% of SBO in the finishing diet of ewe lambs.