Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5543178 | Meat Science | 2018 | 33 Pages |
Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of early feed restriction on carcass and meat quality traits in Merino lambs. Twenty-four male Merino lambs (4.81 ± 0.256 kg) were assigned to two groups (12 animals in each group). The first group (ad libitum, ADL) was kept permanently with the dams. The second group (restricted, RES) was milk-restricted. After weaning (15 kg), daily feed intake of all lambs was identical, but a lower gain: feed ratio was recorded in the RES group (0.320 vs. 0.261; P < 0.001). After animals were slaughtered (27 kg), lower ultimate pH and reduced yellow colouration of subcutaneous fat was recorded in meat from the RES lambs when compared to ADL group, whereas a trend towards a significant increment of intramuscular fat content and no effect on meat quality traits was observed in the RES lambs. Early feed restriction may be useful to increase intramuscular fat accretion in Merino lambs during the fattening period.
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Authors
Alba Santos, F. Javier Giráldez, Javier Mateo, Javier Frutos, Sonia Andrés,