Effect of Dietary Calcium Propionate Inclusion Period on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Feedlot Ram Lambs

Abstract

The objective was to determine the effect of calcium propionate (CaPr) inclusion in the diet, at different periods on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of finishing lambs. Thirty-six Dorper × Katahdin crossbred male lambs (39.1 ± 0.44 kg BW) were housed in individual pens during a 42 d feeding period and assigned to four treatments (n = 9) consisting of CaPr administered at a dose of 10 g/lamb/d for 0 (control), 14, 28, or 42 d before slaughter. Final BW (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and ADG:DMI ratio increased quadratically (p p p p p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary CaPr can be included for a period of 24 to 28 d to improve growth performance and carcass weight, without affecting organ mass or meat quality.

Keywords

• crossbred lambs
• gluconeogenic precursor’s
• dietary energy
• feedlot