Carcass characteristics and body components of Santa Inês lambs in feedlot fed on different levels of forage cactus meal

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the replacement of a ground corn diet by a forage cactus meal diet on the carcass characteristics and body components of Santa Inês lambs finished in feedlot. This study was carried out at Estação Experimental de Pendência, belonging to Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária da Paraíba S.A. (EMEPA-PB).Forty Santa Inês male lambs in feedlot were used in the experiment. Treatments were randomly assigned to the animals according to a completely randomized design, with four treatments, which consisted of growing replacement levels of ground corn by forage cactus meal: 0, 33, 66 and 100% of substitution and ten replications (lambs). Animals were slaughtered, and the following characteristics were evaluated: body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, non-carcass components (NCC), hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield, biological yield, revenue of non components of carcass, revenues of non-carcass components, relative weight and relative value of the commercial cuts, viscera and organs' yield. Averages were submitted to analysis of variance and regression analyses at a 5% level of probability. The replacement levels of ground corn by forage cactus meal had no influence on biological yield, revenue of the non components of carcass, relative weight and relative value of the prime and choice cuts or on the relative weight of viscera and organs. The replacement of ground corn by forage cactus meal, on the ration given to Santa Ines lambs in feedlot does not impact the biological yield, relative weight and relative value of prime and choice cuts or the relative weight of viscera and other organs.

<b>Fresh or dehydrated spineless cactus in diets for lambs

“…Some studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of dehydrated spineless cactus or meal replacing corn in the diet for sheep and the results indicate that, at high levels, dehydrated spineless cactus results in reduced intake, digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics of sheep (Véras, Ferreira, Cavalcanti et al, 2005;Véras, Ferreira, Véras et al, 2005;Santos et al, 2011). Nonetheless, the dehydrated spineless cactus has not been tested when combined with a dehydrated forage, like hay, for example.…”

Edible spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica): A promising alternative forage source for livestock

“…Forage cactus meal showed the capability of replacing ground corn in the diet of ovines without affecting biological yield and weighted value of prime and choice cuts or the yield of viscera and organs (Santos et al 2011). The results on use of cactuslegume diets were comparable to those of commercial diet (Gusha et al 2015).…”

Effect of Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Essential Oil as a Phytogenic Feed Additive on Productive Performance, Ruminal Fermentation, and Antioxidant Activity in Lamb Meat

“…At the end of the collection period of feces and urine, the lambs were slaughtered after fasting for 12 h. Hot carcasses were immediately weighed to calculate hot carcass yield and hot carcass biological yield, according to Santos et al [22]. For the pH and temperature measurements, a portable potentiometer (Model HL99163, HANNA ® , Waterproof Tester, Woonsocket, RI, USA) was used with a penetration electrode in the Longissimus dorsi muscle between the thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae, 15 min after slaughter.…”