An alternative approach for sustainable sheep meat production: implications for food security

Feeding of Camelina sativa Seeds to Light-Type Gentile di Puglia Lambs: Effect on Productive Performance and Muscle Fatty Acid Composition

The effect of different amounts of camelina (CAM; Camelina sativa) seeds in lambs of the Gentile di Puglia breed on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality was investigated. Up to 70 days of age, twenty-four male lambs (13.0 ± 0.35 kg) were randomly assigned to three isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Pelleted total mixed rations (TMR) were created to provide: (1) a control diet (CON), (2) an experimental corn-based diet including 5% camelina (CAM5) seeds, and (3) an experimental corn-based diet containing 10% camelina (CAM10) seeds. The presence of CAM in the diet impacted lamb performance (p < 0.05), according to the results of a growth study. Lambs were slaughtered at the conclusion of the feeding period, and none of the carcass characteristics investigated were significantly affected by dietary treatment, with the exception of brisket and rib weight and carcass lean, which were improved (p < 0.05) in lambs fed the CAM diet. The color of lamb flesh from the Longissimus lumborum muscle was affected by CAM diets (p < 0.05), but the chemical content and physical characteristics did not differ across treatments (p > 0.05). The fatty acid composition of lamb meat in muscle was somewhat regulated by the experimental diets, with CAM feeding improving (p < 0.05) the level of linolenic acid and MUFA while reducing SFA and PUFA. As a result of the current data, it can be stated that camelina seed supplementation may be included in the lamb diet because no negative impacts on productivity, as well as an enhancement in meat quality, have been found.

The heavy suckling lamb of Sarda dairy sheep and its crossbreed with Dorper rams: Performance, meat quality and consumer perceptions

The increase of meat production in dairy sheep farms, has been evaluated by the extension of the suckling period from the traditional 28 days to 75 days to obtain a new product, the heavy suckling lamb. Nineteen single-born Sarda (S) lambs (10 male, 9 female) and 20 single-born Dorper x Sarda (DS) lambs (9 male, 11 female), randomly selected from autumn lambing season, were fed exclusively with maternal milk until slaughtering at 20 ± 0.28 kg of body weight (BW, mean ± standard deviation, SD) and approximately 11 weeks of age. Body weight were recorded at birth and every 15 days until slaughter to estimate average daily gain (ADG). At slaughter, carcass measurements, pH and colour traits were recorded from the left side of the carcass. Proximate composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, cooking and drip losses were evaluated using the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle. In addition, Visual Panel Test (VPT) and Taste Panel Test (TPT) were performed. Experimental results evidenced that ADG did not differ between pure and crossbreed lambs and between sexes. The S lamb carcasses showed a higher fat content and rib fat thickness compared to that of crossbreed. No significant differences were found between genetic types and sex for colour and pH determinations, cooking and drip losses, whereas LTL fat of DS displayed a higher nutritional FA profile with higher content of 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, branched-chain FA, and odd- and branched chain FA. No differences emerged during VPT and TPT, demonstrating that both DS and S lamb meats present no distinguishable visual and eating quality characteristics. The production of heavy suckling lambs from Sarda and Dorper crossbreed by the extension of suckling period appeared a promising strategy for producing meat of high quality, well appreciated by the consumers.

Enrichment of Dairy-Type Lamb Diet with Microencapsulated Omega-3 Fish Oil: Effects on Growth, Carcass Quality and Meat Fatty Acids

The hypothesis that adding omega-3 oil to feedlot pellets will improve the meat's favourable n-3 PUFA composition was tested in this experiment. Therefore, we evaluated the productive traits and modification of the composition of n-3 PUFA of Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle in growing lambs supplemented with microencapsulated omega-3 oil (MEOIL) in pelleted total mixed rations (TMR). Thirty six one month old Valle del Belice male lambs (14.04 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly distributed to one of the three dietary treatments (n = 12 lambs each) and provided the supplemented diets up to 14 weeks of age: 1. control (CON) pelleted TMR without omega-3 oil supplementation; 2. omega-3 oil fortified pelleted TMR at 1% (MEOIL1) supplementation; and 3- Omega-3 oil fortified pelleted TMR at 3% (MEOIL3) supplementation. Supplementing MEOIL at both levels in diet positively impacted (p < 0.05) body weight (BW) and feed efficiency. At the end of feeding period, most carcass quality traits did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) among groups, with the exception of carcass dressing and loin yield at both levels of MEOIL. The color and physical traits of LL muscle were affected by MEOIL supplementation (p < 0.05), with no significant change in chemical characteristics. Fatty acids composition of meat in term of linolenic, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by both levels of MEOIL. It was concluded that the tested microencapsulated omega-3 oil preparation may be included at 1% in lamb diet for increasing unsaturated fatty acids in meat without any detrimental effects on lamb productivity.

Productivity and carcass characteristics of lambs fed fibrous agricultural wastes to substitute grass

Background and Aim:

Grass is often scarce for ruminants during the dry season in Indonesia; thus agricultural by-products are widely used as a substitute for grass. This study aimed to determine the effect of replacing Napier grass (NG) with agricultural by-products on the productivity and carcass characteristics of lambs.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty-four 3-month-old male lambs with initial body weights of 13.26±1.29 kg (coefficient of variation=9.73%) were allocated into a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications. The treatments included: NG=100% NG; corn cobs (CCs)=50% NG and 50% CCs; bagasse (BG)=50% NG and 50% BG; and peanut shells (PSs)=50% NG and 50% PSs. All treatment diets were pelleted and consisted of 40% fibrous feed and 60% concentrate feed, and contained 10.36-11.65% crude protein and 55.47-57.31% total digestible nutrients. Parameters observed included dry matter intake (DMI), dry matter digestibility, body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed cost per gain (FC/G), and carcass characteristics.

Results:

Lambs fed the PSs diet had the highest (p<0.05) DMI (781 g/d), digestibility, and body weight gain (92.5 g/d; p<0.05). The FCR of the PSs diet (9.13) was similar to NG. The FC/G of the PSs diet (IDR 23,541/kg) was the lowest of all diets. The BG diet had the lowest (p<0.05) digestibility, body weight gain (54.4 g/d), and the highest (13.53) FCR. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in the carcass or meat characteristics of any diets. The averages of slaughter weight, carcass weight, and carcass percentage were 20.03 kg, 8.02 kg, and 40.0%, respectively. The average meat bone ratio was 3.67.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that agricultural wastes could be used as an alternative to NG at the level of 50% in the diet of lambs without a negative effect on production performance and carcass traits.