Performance and carcass and meat traits of lambs fed diets containing protected fat

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and carcass and meat quality traits of crossbred Suffolk lambs fed diets containing protected fat. Eighteen uncastrated male lambs with a mean age of 70 days and weighing 18.8 ± 2.1 kg were used. The animals were kept in feedlots for 63 diets where they received diets containing 0%, 4.2% and 5.8% protected fat, and were slaughtered at 34.8 ± 5.2 kg. A completely randomized experimental design was used and the results were analyzed by regression. There was a quadratic effect of dietary protected fat content on average daily weight gain and crude protein intake, with a peak at a fat content of 4.2%. A linear increase was observed for ether extract intake. Dietary protected fat content had no effect on carcass traits. There was a quadratic effect on shear strength, with the highest value (3.75 kg) being observed for meat of animals fed the diet with 5.8% protected fat. The ether extract content of meat also increased with the addition of fat to the diet. On the basis of the results, we do not recommend the use of protected fat in diets containing a high proportion of concentrate for feedlot finishing of lambs.

Keywords

• cor da carne
• gordura inerte
• maciez
• níveis de energia
• ovinos