Characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of lambs fed diets containing silages of forages adapted to the semi-arid environment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to the semi-arid environment on the characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components of 32 mixed-breed lambs at approximately six months old, with an average live weight of 17.61 ± 2.63 kg. Lambs were assigned to four treatments (diets containing silages of Atriplex nummularia Lind, Cenchrus ciliaris, Gliricidia sepium and Manihot sp.) in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Animals fed the diet containing old man saltbush showed higher values for the intakes of dry matter (1.080 g/day), crude protein (190 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (740 g/day), body condition score (2.81 points), fatness (2.87 points), carcass conformation (3.19 points), live weight (29.1 kg), empty bodyweight (23.41 kg), weights of the commercial cuts neck, shoulder and ribs (0.46, 0.82 and 1.12 kg, respectively), and skin weight (1.972 kg). No differences were found between the diets for carcass dressing percentage, external and internal carcass lengths, leg length and circumference, rump circumference and width, chest width and depth, full bodyweight, empty bodyweight, cooling losses, pH before and after cooling, loin, and leg. Silages of old man saltbush, buffelgrass, gliricidia and pornunça are recommended for inclusion in lamb diets. Diets with old man saltbush silage provide the best results for characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components besides weight gain, which can reach up to 200 g/day depending on the formulation.

Chemical Properties, Ruminal Fermentation, Gas Production and Digestibility of Silages Composed of Spineless Cactus and Tropical Forage Plants for Sheep Feeding

“…According to Campos et al [13], some of the forages suitable for this process are the crops adapted to semi-arid regions, such as gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium L.), pornunça (Manihot spp.) and buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.), as they are found in abundance and for their productive and nutritional potential for feeding ruminants.…”

Nutritional, physiological, hematological, and biochemical responses of lambs fed increasing levels of Pornunça silage

“…According to Carvalho et al (2017), Pornunça silage presents pH = 3.7, N-NH 3 /total = 5.5, acid lactic 3.85, acetic 1.13, propionic 0.36, and butyric 0.01 (% dry matter -DM). Thus, demonstrating an adequate fermentation profile and providing considerable productive performance, caracass traits (Campos et al, 2019) and meat sensory properties (Campos et al, 2017), presenting as alternative feed for ruminants.…”

Utilization of industrial waste banana chips in feed towards morphometrics and characteristics of thin-tailed sheep carcass

“…However, in the dry season, it is sometimes difficult for farmers to get green beans because the number is limited. Campos et al [7] stated that the use of forage plants in arid regions requires forage preservation methods aiming at increasing the availability of feed, especially during the dry season in order to foster the development of small ruminant production.…”