Carcass traits and meat quality of Texel lambs raised in Brachiaria pasture and feedlot systems |
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| Authors: | Pmila Carolini Gonalves da Silva Camila Celeste Brando Ferreira Ítavo Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo Marina de Nadai Bonin Gomes Gelson Luís Dias Feij Kedma Leonora Silva Monteiro Ferelli Natlia da Silva Heimbach Jonilson Araújo da Silva Gleice Kelli Ayardes de Melo Marília Williani Filgueira Pereira |
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| Institution: | Pâmila Carolini Gonçalves da Silva,Camila Celeste Brandão Ferreira Ítavo,Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo,Marina de Nadai Bonin Gomes,Gelson Luís Dias Feijó,Kedma Leonora Silva Monteiro Ferelli,Natália da Silva Heimbach,Jonilson Araújo da Silva,Gleice Kelli Ayardes de Melo,Marília Williani Filgueira Pereira |
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| Abstract: | Our hypothesis suggests an improvement in carcass and meat quality of pasture‐finished animals by introducing concentrate feed into diets. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of protein‐energy supplementation on carcass and meat characteristics of Texel lambs raised on Brachiaria pastures, and compare the results with those obtained from confined animals. Thirty 2‐month‐old intact lambs were divided into five treatments: pasture with mineral supplementation, pasture containing daily supplies of 0.8, 1.6, and 2.4% BW protein‐energy supplementation, and confinement (reference treatment). All animals were slaughtered 104 days after the beginning of the experiment. Lambs submitted to 1.6% and 2.4% BW supplementation presented similar characteristics to animals kept in confinement and were superior to animals treated with 0 or 0.8% of BW supplementation levels (p < .05). Increases of subcutaneous fat thickness were verified for 0.0, 0.8, 1.6, 2.4% BW, and confinement treatments, being respectively of 0.25, 0.74, 1.61, 1.69, and 1.98. Conversely, treatments had no influence on meat physical‐chemical characteristics, being all considered moderately soft, juicy (tender), and with mild tastes and odors. Lambs raised on Brachiaria pastures have high‐quality meat, but more protein‐energy supplementation is needed to be an alternative for the feedlots for young animals. |
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| Keywords: | fatty acids lamb pasture rib eye area supplementation |
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