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Carcass traits and meat quality of Texel lambs raised in Brachiaria pasture and feedlot systems
Author(s) -
Silva Pâmila Carolini Gonçalves,
Brandão Ferreira Ítavo Camila Celeste,
Vinhas Ítavo Luís Carlos,
Nadai Bonin Gomes Marina,
Dias Feijó Gelson Luís,
Monteiro Ferelli Kedma Leonora Silva,
Silva Heimbach Natália,
Silva Jonilson Araújo,
Melo Gleice Kelli Ayardes,
Filgueira Pereira Marília Williani
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.13394
Subject(s) - feedlot , brachiaria , texel , pasture , zoology , biology , agronomy , forage
Abstract Our hypothesis suggests an improvement in carcass and meat quality of pasture‐finished animals by introducing concentrate feed into diets. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of protein‐energy supplementation on carcass and meat characteristics of Texel lambs raised on Brachiaria pastures, and compare the results with those obtained from confined animals. Thirty 2‐month‐old intact lambs were divided into five treatments: pasture with mineral supplementation, pasture containing daily supplies of 0.8, 1.6, and 2.4% BW protein‐energy supplementation, and confinement (reference treatment). All animals were slaughtered 104 days after the beginning of the experiment. Lambs submitted to 1.6% and 2.4% BW supplementation presented similar characteristics to animals kept in confinement and were superior to animals treated with 0 or 0.8% of BW supplementation levels ( p < .05). Increases of subcutaneous fat thickness were verified for 0.0, 0.8, 1.6, 2.4% BW, and confinement treatments, being respectively of 0.25, 0.74, 1.61, 1.69, and 1.98. Conversely, treatments had no influence on meat physical‐chemical characteristics, being all considered moderately soft, juicy (tender), and with mild tastes and odors. Lambs raised on Brachiaria pastures have high‐quality meat, but more protein‐energy supplementation is needed to be an alternative for the feedlots for young animals.