Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences (Jul 2022)

Performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets containing different types of carbohydrates associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids

  • Rafael Lopes Soares ,
  • Rita de Cássia Ramos do Egypto Queiroga ,
  • Rui José Branquinho Bessa ,
  • Francinilda Alves de Sousa ,
  • Beatriz Dantas Oliveira Fernandes ,
  • Anaiane Pereira Souza,
  • Ariosvaldo Nunes de Medeiros

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v44i1.56131
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 1

Abstract

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This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets with different types of carbohydrates associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thirty castrated male lambs (20.5 ± 7.6 kg) were used, distributed in a randomized block design under three experimental diets: High proportion of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) diet; High NFC diet + spineless cactus (high proportion of NFC and spineless cactus) and Low NFC diet (low proportion of NFC), in a 60 day experimental period. The variables of nutrient intake, performance, and carcass characteristics were evaluated. The animals fed the High NFC + spineless cactus diet presented a higher dry matter intake, organic matter, mineral matter, crude protein, and total carbohydrates intake (p <0.05). Carcass characteristics and weight of commercial cuts were improved in High NFC and High NFC + spineless cactus diets (p <0.05), on the other hand we observed a total fat weight reduction in animals fed with High NFC + spineless cactus. The results indicate that high levels of NFC positively influence animal performance, where the type of carbohydrate influences nutrient intake, also affecting carcass characteristics.

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