Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (Dec 2023)

Effects of corn straw on meat characteristics of lambs in the Brazilian semi-arid region

  • ANA B. DE OLIVEIRA,
  • TALITA A. DE PAULA,
  • WANDRICK HAUSS DE SOUSA,
  • MARCELO A. FERREIRA,
  • FELIPE Q. CARTAXO,
  • MARCÍLIO F. CEZAR,
  • MARIA LUCIANA M. WANDERLEY NEVES,
  • LÍGIA MARIA G. BARRETO,
  • FLÁVIO G. DE OLIVEIRA,
  • RAYANE N. GOMES,
  • ANTONIA SHERLÂNEA C. VÉRAS

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320200395
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 95, no. 4

Abstract

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Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of increasing levels of corn straw replacement of sorghum silage on average daily gain, loin eye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, weight of commercial cuts, leg tissue composition, and physico-chemical characteristics of the meat from F1 Santa Inês × Dorper lambs maintained in a feedlot system. Treatments consisted of 0, 33, 66 and 100% corn straw replacement of sorghum silage. There were thirty-six 150-day-old male lambs. Corn straw replacement of sorghum silage in lamb feed reduced the average daily gain and weight of the ribs, besides promoting a quadratic influence on leg fat content. However, there was no influence on commercial carcass cuts, leg muscle index, leg tissue composition, and physico-chemical characteristics of the meat. Thus, corn straw can be used as alternative feedstuff for sheep rations to improve the production of high-quality sheep meat in semi-arid regions.

Keywords