Performance and carcass quality of lambs evaluated in two feeding systems

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and carcass quality of Corriedale crossbred lambs (n=28) in two feeding systems during finishing: a) weaned and grazing on annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in late season; b) maintained with their mothers and grazing on May-deferred native pasture. The following measurements were made at the beginning of the experimental period and at intervals of 20 days: body weight, front height, rear height, body length, chest circumference, and body condition. Additionally, body structure was evaluated by the frame size index [FSI = (front height + rear height + body length + body weight)/4], and compactness as body weight/body length. Eight animals were slaughtered at the end of the experimental period, four per treatment, for the evaluation of carcass traits (body and regional components), cooking loss, and carcass yields (commercial, slaughter, and farm). The data were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by the F test or by the nonparametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test (P0.05). However, animals maintained with their mothers on deferred native pasture showed better productive performance characterized by higher total gains in weight, body condition, chest circumference, and compactness. Postslaughter evaluation showed significantly higher (P<0.05) hot and cold carcass weight and better commercial and slaughter carcass yields, in addition to longer carcasses with greater depth and leg proportion in lambs kept with their mothers on native pasture compared to those kept on annual ryegrass, which only exhibited a greater percentage of gastrointestinal tract.

Keywords

• azevém
• campo nativo
• Corriedale
• frame size index
• terminação