The effect of weight on carcass and meat quality of Serra da Estrela and Merino Branco lambs fattened with dehydrated lucerne

Abstract

-Thirty-four ram lambs of the Serra da Estrela (SE) and Merino Branco (MB) breeds were used to evaluate lamb growth performance and the effect of carcass weight on carcass composition and meat quality traits. Five lambs of each breed were slaughtered after weaning, at 16 kg average live weight (LW), and the remaining were fed ad libitum with dehydrated lucerne and minerals and slaughtered at 25 or 35 kg LW. The left sides of the carcasses were totally dissected. The Longissimus thoracis and Longissimus lumborum muscles were used for meat quality determination. MB lambs grew faster than SE lambs. The muscle/bone ratio was higher for SE lambs (2.84 vs. 2.63) and breed had no effect on meat quality traits, except for water-holding capacity that was higher for MB lambs. Dressing percentage was about 55% at weaning, decreased to about 53% at 25 kg live weight and remained unchanged afterwards. Muscle/bone ratio increased with slaughter weight, ranging from around 2.5 at weaning to 3.0 at 35 kg live weight. As carcass weight increased, muscle pH and water-holding capacity decreased but temperature and intramuscular fat increased. Juiciness scored better for higher carcass weights, however, the overall effect of carcass weight on meat quality traits was minimal, and probably without any commercial impact. lamb / Portuguese sheep breed / growth / carcass quality / meat quality Résumé -Effet du poids sur la qualité de la carcasse et de la viande d'agneaux Serra da Estrela et Merino Branco, alimentés avec de la luzerne déshydratée. Un essai a été mené sur trente quatre agneaux mâles, de race Serra da Estrela (SE) et Merino Branco (MB), afin d'évaluer la performance de croissance et l'effet de l'augmentation du poids sur la composition de la carcasse et sur la qualité de la viande. Cinq agneaux de chaque race ont été abattus après sevrage, avec un poids vif de 16 kg. Les autres, soumis à une alimentation ad libitum à base de luzerne déshydratée et de minéraux, ont été abattus soit à un poids vif de 25 kg ou de 35 kg. Après abattage, la demi carcasse gauche de chaque animal a été complètement disséquée. Afin d'évaluer la qualité de la viande, on a utilisé les muscles Longissimus thoracis et Longissimus lumborum. La vitesse de croissance des agneaux MB a été supérieure à celle des agneaux SE. Le rapport muscle/os a été supérieur chez les agneaux SE (2,84 vs. 2,63). La race n'a eu aucun effet sur la qualité de la viande, sauf dans le cas de

Growth performance, carcass and meat quality of lambs supplemented with increasing levels of a tanniferous bush (Cistus ladanifer L.) and vegetable oils

“…The observed ADG (269 ± 68.8 g) was probably below breed growth potential (Santos-Silva et al, 2002), but close to the results obtained in other trials with lambs of the same breed, fed with similar diets (Bessa, Portugal, Mendes, & Santos-Silva, 2005;Santos-Silva & Portugal, 2001).…”

Comparison of the meat quality and fatty acid composition of traditional fat-tailed (Chall) and tailed (Zel) Iranian sheep breeds

“…Meat with a more pink-color has been shown to be more desirable to consumers in different countries (Ekiz et al, 2009;MartInez-Cerezo et al, 2005;Santos-Silva & Apolinario Vaz, 2001). Overall, meat from the more lean Chall lambs had lower a* values than meat from Zel breeds.…”

Live weight and sex effects on carcass and meat quality of “Borrego terrincho–PDO” suckling lambs

“…European meat quality labels, and in particular ''Borrego Terrincho''-PDO, have some specificity attributed to a particular region and to a traditional production system. However, only a few studies on carcass tissue distribution and meat quality traits of Portuguese local breeds have been published (Santos-Silva, Mendes, & Bessa, 2002;Santos-Silva & Portugal, 2001;Teixeira, Batista, Delfa, & Cadavez, 2005). The carcass weight range in suckling lambs is small.…”