Effect of alfalfa hay on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of growing lambs with ad libitum access to total mixed rations

Abstract

-Forty male Naemi lambs were used to evaluate the effect of total mixed rations (TMR) alone or in combination with supplementation of alfalfa hay offered at different schedules on growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Lambs at the age of three months, with an average weight of 28.85±1.09 kg, were randomly selected and distributed into four different feeding systems, 10 lambs each, as follows: TMR diet (control); TMR plus 100 g alfalfa hay; TMR plus 200 g alfalfa hay every two days; and TMR plus 300 g alfalfa hay every three days. The TMR and fresh drinking water were offered ad libitum. Lambs in the treated groups (with alfalfa hay) had significantly higher body weight, body weight change, dry matter intake, and feed conversion ratio compared with the control. Similarly, slaughter weight, carcass weight (hot and cold), and internal organs weight significantly increased in the treated groups, except for dressing weight percentage, which improved only in the treatment with TMR plus 300 g alfalfa hay. By contrast, mesentery fat, back fat, and body wall fat decreased in treated groups. Meat quality characteristics indicated that cooking loss and pH values did not differ between the control and treated groups; however, meat colour (lightness, yellowness, and redness) and pH (1 and 24 h) improved in postslaughter treated groups. Furthermore, no difference was found in texture profile analysis (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness), although the shear force decreased significantly in treated groups. Addition of alfalfa hay offered at the present plan may not only improve the growth and carcass characteristics, but also enhance the meat quality of Naemi lambs. From the labour and economic point of view, TMR plus 300 g alfalfa hay every three days may be adopted while taking into account the management decision.

Effect of calcium salt of long-chain fatty acids and alfalfa supplementation on performance of Holstein bulls

“…For example, alfalfa as a high quality roughage, provides protein in ruminant nutrition, can reduce the oxidation of fat and increasing the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the fat and improve meat quality of lambs [ 7 , 8 ], rabbits [ 9 ] and pigs [ 10 ]. For example, diet supplement alfalfa can reduce cholesterol and increase polyunsaturated fatty acids in eggs [ 11 ], improve growth performance and carcass trait of lambs [ 8 , 12 ]. Alfalfa flavonoids, extracted from alfalfa, can promote meat quality and antioxidant activity by regulating the lipid metabolism-related genes expression in adipose and liver tissues [ 13 ].…”

Finishing lambs using an integral feed under a restricted-feeding program in an intensive production system in Northern Mexico

“…However, corn silage has low CP content, therefore nutritional requirements for optimum growth are difficult to meet even if this silage has a high nutritional quality, consequently observing an inadequate productive performance during fattening (da Silva-Dos Reis et al 2017, Grabowicz et al 2013, Bernes et al 2012). Moreover, keep animals with high starch content diets increases the incidence of fat accumulation reducing consumer acceptability (Alhidary et al 2016). The use of TMR in ruminants can improve efficiency and feed conversion through optimal ruminal fermentation, cholesterol metabolism, development of the gastrointestinal tract, improvement of weight gain (Zhong et al 2018).…”

Effect of Palm Kernel Meal and Malic Acid on Rumen Characteristics of Growing Naemi Lambs Fed Total Mixed Ration

“…Malic acid was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company (St. Louis, MO, USA). Feed and PKM samples were collected weekly for nutritional analysis [6,12].…”

“…Histology of rumen was performed following the method of Alhidary et al [6]. Rumen and reticulum tissues samples were collected from the ventral sacs.…”

“…Palm kernel meal (PKC) can be economically used compared to other TMR ingredients [4] as a good source of neutral detergent fibers and crude protein [5]. Alhidary et al [6] reported that several factors such as pelleting, iron concentration, particle size, and types of buffer in the feed affect the color of rumen and reticulum. Alhidary et al [6] and Abdelrahman et al [7] reported a significant change in rumen characteristics including a very dark rumen tissues coloring and general performance in growing lambs fed TMR consisted of PKM compared with the traditional feeding system (barley and alfalfa hay).…”