Carcass traits and meat quality of lambs fed with cactus (Opuntia fícus-indica Mill) silage and subjected to an intermittent water supply

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of cactus silage and an intermittent water supply for lambs on carcass traits and meat quality. Thirty-six crossbreed lambs with an initial average weight of 19.8 ± 2.1 kg and average age of 6 months were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 factorial design comprising three addition ratios of cactus silage to the diet (0, 21, and 42% based on dry matter) and three water supply intervals (0, 24, and 48 h) with four replicates. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between the cactus silage ratio and intermittent water supply for any of the evaluated variables, with the exception of the yield of the half carcass commercial cuts. There was no significant effect of intermittent water supply (P > 0.05) on the carcass characteristics or meat quality. The addition of forage cactus silage as a substitute for Tifton hay affected the morphometric measurements (P < 0.05) and carcass compactness index (P < 0.05). The addition of 42% cactus silage to the diet increased (P < 0.05) the rib eye area (13.98 cm 2). The addition of cactus silage as a substitute for Tifton hay positively affected (P < 0.05) the carcass weight of commercial cuts of the lambs. To the physical and chemical parameters of the Longissimus lumborum, the addition of 42% cactus silage to the diet reduced the color meat parameters (P < 0.05) and pH 0 and 24h , cooking losses, and shear force were not affected (P > 0.05). The addition of forage cactus silage to the lambs' diet affected (P < 0.05) the composition of some saturated fatty acids in the meat. A water supply interval of up to 48 h does not influence carcass characteristics and meat quality. Therefore, the use of cactus silage can be recommended in situations of water scarcity without harming the production or meat quality of crossbreed lambs.

Diaspis echinocacti (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on cactus pear cladodes: biological aspects at different temperatures

“…The duration of the egg and nymph stages and egg-adult periods of D. echinocacti females, fed on cladodes cultivar "Orelha de Elefante Mexicana", Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw., and productivity, reduces costs and the use of labor, and enables the constant production of silage for animals confined during the dry season (Souza et al, 2020).…”

Physicochemical Quality and Fatty Acid Profile in the Meat of Goats Fed Forage Cactus as a Substitute for Tifton 85 Hay

“…The goat meat has a low lipid content with a distinct distribution in relation to other ruminant species, since the main lipid deposit in goats is in the abdominal cavity and not subcutaneous and intramuscular, as occurs in cattle and sheep [ 57 , 58 ]. These results ( Table 4 ) of the low content of lipids in the meat of kids fed on cactus agree with Mahouachi et al [ 59 ] who observed a decrease in the amount of lipids from 142 to 101 g/kg in the meat of kids fed on cactus.…”

Comparison of Lipid Properties and Cadmium and Lead Content in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Meat from Three Feeding Grounds

“…Although SFAs are considered harmful to health, the potential of myristic acid to increase total serum cholesterol is 4- to 6-fold higher than that of C16:0 [ 75 ]. Moreover, not all SFAs pose a health risk: even high content of stearic acid exerts no effect on cholesterol levels, as it is poorly digested and easily desaturated to C18:1 [ 76 ].…”

“…The proportions of MUFAs and SFAs are mainly affected by ruminal biohydrogenation, which in turn may be influenced by several factors [ 76 ]. It was found that the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) was higher in the muscles of the conventionally farmed red deer than in the case of animals from the forest feeding grounds, due to the higher concentrations of C16:1 and C17:1.…”