The Impact of Fetal Programming in Ewe Nutrition with Chromium Propionate or Calcium Salts of Palm Oil on the Meat Quality and Bone of the Progeny

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of chromium propionate or calcium salts of palm oil in ewes' diet in the nal third of gestation and lactation on the effects of progeny performance, carcass characteristics, non-carcass components, and bone density. Forty-three ewe, Santa Inês and Dorper breeds, 3 ± 1 years old and weighing 57 ± 10 kg were used. The ewes were distributed in causal blocks in three treatments, CTL treatment (n = 15) with starch from corn; CR (n = 15) diet CTL plus chromium propionate; PF (n = 13) diet CTL plus calcium salts of palm oil. After weaning, 23 male lambs from these ewes were con ned in individual stalls, with the same diet for 60 days, slaughtered. The data were analyzed using PROC GLM and means evaluated using the Tukey at 5%. Maternal diet did not alter the DMI, FE, and ADWG. Therefore, weaning and slaughter weights were higher for Cr and PF groups than CTL (P < 0.05). Carcass yield was also higher for these treatments (P < 0.05), but loin eye area and fat thickness were not in uenced (P > 0.05) by diet regimen. The spleen and the respiratory tract were smaller for PF and larger for CTL (P < 0.05). The leg weight was about half of the carcass weight for the CR. The perimeter and depth of the shank for the CR and PF lambs were higher, indicating an effect of maternal nutrition in this commercial cut. The CR group had a smaller epiphysis measurement and femur length than the CTL group. We concluded that the fetal programming effect in ewes fed with Cr propionate and Ca salts of palm oil bene ted the progeny by increasing their body weight, better carcass yield, and a higher proportion of prime cuts.

Effects of maternal calcium propionate supplementation on offspring productivity and meat metabolomic profile in sheep

“…Lambs from FMG treatment had a lower empty body weight. Interestingly, Brochine et al [ 45 ] used chromium propionate and calcium salts during gestation, and they reported that the weight of non-carcass components of lambs was heavier than control groups. Also, the authors reported that chromium propionate during maternal supplementations affects lambs’ respiratory tract and spleen development.…”