Comparison of meat quality characteristics and fatty acid composition of finished goat kids from indigenous and dairy breeds

The aim of the study was to compare the certain carcass and meat quality traits and also fatty acid composition of goat kids from indigenous breeds (Gokceada and Hair Goat) and dairy breeds (Saanen and Maltese). A total 40 male kids from Saanen, Gokceada, Maltese and Hair Goat breeds were collected from commercial farms after weaning. Kids were finished for 56 days with grower concentrate and alfalfa hay in the sheepfold until slaughter. Higher mean values were found for Saanen kids in terms of slaughter weight, hot carcass weight and real dressing compared with Maltese, Hair Goat and Gokceada kids under the same intensive conditions. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between breeds in terms of instrumental meat quality traits, except meat colour. Meat from Gokceada and Hair Goat kids had higher lightness and Hue angle values than Saanen kids after 24 h of blooming. High meat redness values were observed for Saanen kids after 0 and 1 h of blooming. Panellist appreciated cooked meat from Saanen and Maltese kids in overall acceptability. If the fatty acid composition of meat was taken into consideration, kids from Saanen and Gokceada breeds displayed better values, because of the lower ?SFA percentage and higher desirable fatty acids (C18:0?+?ΣMUFA?+?ΣPUFA) percentage than Maltese and Hair Goat kids. Our results indicate that male kids for Saanen which is dairy breed could be assessable for quality goat meat production.     

Effects of crossbreeding indigenous Hair Goat with Saanen on carcass measurements and meat quality of kids under an intensive production system

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of genotype on carcass measurements and meat quality characteristics of purebred Hair Goat, Saanen × Hair Goat (F₁ and B₁) kids under an intensive production system. In total, 24 kids were slaughtered at the age of approximately 133 days. Kids were fattened for 56 days immediately after weaning. Hot carcass weights were 6.78, 7.61 and 7.02 kg and dressing percentages were 49.71, 49.27 and 48.78%, respectively ( P  > 0.05). Differences between genotypes for carcass measurements and indexes were not significant. Effect of genotype on pH measurements, drip loss, water holding capacity, cooking loss and Warner Bratzler shear force values were not significant. Meat lightness values at 0 h, 1 h and 1 day after cutting were higher in crossbred kids than Hair Goat kids ( P  < 0.05). Redness value was significantly higher in meat samples of Hair goat kids at 0 h, 1 h and 1 day measurements ( P  < 0.05). Kid genotype had no significant effect on meat sensory characteristics, except tenderness. Panelists gave lower scores for meat tenderness to F₁ and B₁ crosses compared to purebred Hair Goat kids. In conclusion, higher meat lightness values of crossbred kids, at particularly B₁ level, might have a positive effect on the consumer choices.     

Carcass composition and meat quality of equally mature kids and lambs

Carcass composition and meat quality attributes of 55 suckling kids (27 males and 28 females) and 57 suckling lambs (28 males and 29 females) of Portuguese native breeds were investigated. These suckling kid and lamb meats are European meat quality labels produced according to "Cabrito de Barroso- PGI" and "Borrego Terrincho-PDO" specifications, respectively. Female kids were slaughtered at 9.1 +/- 0.36 kg of BW, and male kids were slaughtered at 10.4 +/- 0.37 kg of BW, corresponding to 20.1 and 17.7% of maturity, respectively. Female lambs were slaughtered at 8.6 +/- 0.53 kg of BW, and male lambs were slaughtered at 9.9 +/- 0.23 kg of BW, corresponding to 19.9 and 17.1% of maturity, respectively. At 24 h postmortem, various yield and quality measurements were collected. The left sides of the carcasses were dissected into muscle, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, and bone. Final pH, instrumental color (L*, a*, b*), carcass measurements, and kidney knob and pelvic fat were also determined. Samples of LM were taken from the lumbar and thoracic cuts for intramuscular and meat quality determinations. At 72 h postmortem, a sample of LM was used for cooking losses and Warner-Bratzler shear force determination. Suckling lambs had greater dressing proportion than suckling kids (P < 0.01). Carcass fatness was not affected by species (P > 0.05), but females had greater kidney knob and pelvic fat proportion than males (P < 0.01). Lambs had greater proportions of the highly valued leg cut and lower proportions of shoulder, anterior rib, and neck cuts than kids. Dissection results indicated that kid carcasses had greater muscle content and lower dissected fat and bone than lambs. Kids had greater (P < 0.001) muscle ultimate pH value than lambs (5.8 +/- 0.02 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.02). Males had greater (P < 0.05) muscle ultimate pH value than females (5.7 +/- 0.02 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.02). The kid meat was significantly lighter (P < 0.05) and less yellow (P < 0.001) than the lamb meat. Kids presented less cooking losses (P < 0.001) than lambs, and shear force value was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in lamb meat. The kid meat had significantly more moisture (P < 0.001) and less intramuscular fat content (P < 0.001) than lambs. At this maturity stage, there were significant differences on both carcass and meat quality attributes of suckling kids and lambs, possibly due to inherent differences between species.     

Vegetation-type effects on performance and meat quality of growing Engadine and Valaisian Black Nose sheep grazing alpine pastures

Lambs of two Swiss mountain breeds, Engadine Sheep (ES; n=55) and Valaisian Black Nose Sheep (VS; n=55), were fattened in 2010 and 2011 on one lowland and three alpine pastures. Groups of six to seven lambs per breed were allocated to pastures of a size allowing ad libitum intake on the following four vegetation types: (i) species-poor and nutrient-rich lowland (400 m a.s.l.) ryegrass–clover ley on flat terrain (‘lowland-rich’); (ii) alpine, species-rich and nutrient-rich vegetation type on a flat terrain (1950 m; ‘alpine-rich’); (iii) alpine, species-rich vegetation type, moderate in nutrients on steep terrain (2150 m; ‘alpine-moderate’); and (iv) alpine, species-rich and nutrient-poor vegetation type on steep terrain (2150 m; ‘alpine-poor’). Lambs were slaughtered after 9 weeks of grazing in a commercial slaughterhouse. Carcasses were subjected to the Swiss CH-TAX classification grid. Meat quality was analysed on the Musculus longissimus dorsi (LD) in the segment of Musculus longissimus lumborum. Forage quality varied among vegetation types as anticipated. Across all sites, ES were superior (P<0.001) to VS in dressing percentage (43.9 vs. 38.4), carcass weight (18.4 vs. 16.4 kg), meat conformation and fat cover scores, even though daily gains had been lower (105 vs. 122 g/d; P<0.05). Meat of ES contained more dry matter, protein, total ash (P<0.001) and fat (P<0.05). Their meat was darker and more intensive red, had lower cooking losses (23.0 vs. 25.1%) but was less tender (65.6 vs. 58.1 N) compared to VS (P<0.001). Vegetation types offering good quality forage (lowland-rich and alpine-rich) enhanced average daily gains, dressing percentage, meat conformation and fat cover scores (mostly P<0.05 against alpine-moderate and -poor). Similarly, a higher vegetation quality promoted a higher intramuscular fat and lower cooking losses. Meat from lowland-rich was darkest and had the lowest shear force (P<0.05). Almost no breed×site interactions occurred in growth performance as well as carcass and meat quality. It was therefore concluded that both breeds are similarly well adapted to the extensive pasture production system in alpine regions. Still, ES seem to be the more efficient one of the two sheep breeds. The results also indicate that growth performance and meat quality clearly vary between vegetation types in animals grazing alpine pastures.     

Effect of diet composition and slaughter weight on animal performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acid composition in veal calves

The effect of true milk use in the diet of Spanish Brown Swiss male calves on animal performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acids composition was studied. In experiment 1, the effect of milk intake [ad libitum continuous (ADLIB) feed vs. restricted 0.7 during 75 days followed by ad libitum feed (RESTR)] and slaughter endpoint (225 kg vs. 5 month) were studied. In experiment 2, ad libitum concentrate feeding [grain-fed (GF)] was compared with milk supplementation until slaughter [milk-fed (MF)] in calves slaughtered at 345 kg. As regards to milk intake, carcass weight and degree of fatness were higher in the ADLIB group (P<0.05). The RESTR group revealed a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (P<0.05). In experiment 2, the MF group exhibited a higher fat percentage (P<0.05), lower press and cooking losses (P<0.05), and higher scores for tenderness and juiciness (P<0.05) than the GF group. The percentage of saturated fatty acids was higher in the MF group (P<0.05). The results suggest that true milk use in veal production could be an advantageous alternative in terms on production costs, animal performance, and carcass and meat quality.     

Meat production traits of a new sheep breed called Bafra in Turkey 2. Meat quality characteristics of lambs

Meat quality characteristics of Bafra ram lambs slaughtered at different weights were investigated. A total of 24 lambs fattened intensively was slaughtered at four slaughter weights of 30, 35, 40, and 45 kg. Water-holding capacity, cooking loss, tenderness, color, as well as protein content did not vary significantly among the slaughter weight groups, although the 30-kg slaughter weight lambs displayed the greatest postmortem pH fall in musculus longissimus dorsi (P?<?0.05). As slaughter weight increased, intramuscular fat of musculus longissimus dorsi showed an increasing nutritive value (P?<?0.05), total unsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids ratio (P?<?0.05), and n6/n3 ratio (P?<?0.05). However, atherogenic index and thrombogenic index values decreased with increasing slaughter weight, although this effect was not significant. The effect of slaughter weight on total cholesterol was not pronounced.

     

Some descriptive characteristics of a new goat breed called Honamli in Turkey

This study has been carried out in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey on seven different Honamli goat flocks. The aim of this study was to determine the growth characters, survival rate (till weaning, 105th day), some reproductive characteristics and marketable milk yield. The data were collected from 516 does and 210 kids (125 buckling and 85 doelings). The results indicate that the numbers of multiple birth and litter size were 32.8 % and 1.35 respectively. Survival rates of kids at the 30th, 90th, and 105th days were 98.5, 97.2, and 97.2?%, respectively. The average birth weight for the buckling and doelings was 4.1 and 3.7?kg, respectively. The average weaning weights for buckling and doelings were 26.9 and 23.4?kg, respectively. The effects of dams?? age, on sex and birth type on the growth of Honamli kids were statistically significant (p?<?0.05, p?<?0.01, and p?<?0.001). While the diameters of erythrocytes of Honamli goats are smaller, the density of hemoglobin in the erythrocytes is more than Asian, Indian, and American caprine breeds. The average lactation length and marketable milk yield was assessed to be at 210.3?days and was 89?L, respectively. The growth characteristics of Honamli kids at weaning age were assessed to be higher than most of the other goat breeds in Turkey. The results further indicated that there is a significant variation in the production traits among the different Honamli goat flocks. Production traits of Honamli goats at different breeding conditions should further be investigated to come to a definite conclusion.     

Effect of inclusion of tossign (Thymus serrulatus) in concentrate mix supplementation on performance and sensory quality of meat of Menz sheep

The experiment was conducted to determine feed intake, digestibility, body weight change, carcass characteristics, and sensory quality of meat of Menz sheep supplemented with a concentrate mix and combinations of different proportions of tossign (Thymus serrulatus). Twenty yearling intact male Menz sheep were divided according to their initial body weight into five blocks of four animals in a randomized block design, and treatments were assigned randomly to each sheep within each block. The treatments were a basal diet of hay alone (T1) and supplemented with 300 g concentrate mix (T2), 200 g concentrate mix?+?100 g tossign (T3), and 100 g concentrate mix?+?200 g tossign (T4) on a dry matter basis. The results indicated that supplementation of tossign together with concentrate mix significantly increased (P?<?0.001) feed intake and improved DM and nutrient digestibility compared to the non-supplemented group. Supplementation of tossign with concentrate significantly improved (P?<?0.001) daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and carcass characteristics of sheep compared to the non-supplemented group. Flavor and aroma scores of meat samples of sheep in T3 and T4 were significantly higher (P?<?0.001) than the corresponding values in T1 and T2. The scores for tenderness, juiciness, and degree of marbling of meat samples of sheep were significantly higher (P?<?0.001) in T3 and T4 compared to meat samples of sheep in T1. Inclusion of small amounts of tossign as additive in concentrate mix supplementation can improve the sensory quality of meat of Menz sheep.     

Effect of age and different doses of dietary vitamin E on breast meat qualitative characteristics of finishing broilers

The supplementation of vitamin E on broiler chicken diets is essential to the prevention of lipid oxidation reactions in the meat and improvement of meat quality. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different doses of dietary vitamin E on breast meat quality of broiler chickens in the finishing period. Five doses of vitamin E were used (30, 90, 150, 210, and 270 mg/kg feed) in broilers'' diets from 42 to 54 d of age. A completely randomized design was conducted, followed by a split-plot, where the vitamin E dose was considered as the whole plot, and broilers’ age at slaughter was the subplot. Breast meat quality was assessed at 4 different ages (45, 48, 51, and 54 d old), using 50 birds per age, totaling 200 birds. Meat quality characteristics evaluated were: pH at 24 h post mortem, color (brightness, redness, and yellowness), water holding capacity, cooking loss, shear force, and lipid peroxidation. There was no interaction between age and dose of vitamin E for meat quality characteristics (P > 0.05). The age at slaughter had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on pH, brightness, redness, and water holding capacity. Although pH values were higher in the breast meat of older birds (51 and 52 d old), breast meat of younger birds (48 d) had a more reddish aspect. Shear force value was higher in breast meat of birds slaughtered at later ages (P < 0.01), as a linear age-effect was observed. Brightness increased linearly (P < 0.05) with higher vitamin doses, whereas treatments did not alter yellowness, cooking loss, and lipid peroxidation. In this study, increasing vitamin E doses in the finishing period increased the brightness of broiler breast meat, whereas slaughtering at later ages resulted in greater meat pH and shear force value.     

Ultrasound measurements of live and carcass traits in Tswana goat kids raised under semi-intensive system in South-eastern Botswana

The aim of this study was to characterise ultrasound measurements of live and carcass traits in intact males, females and castrated Tswana goat kids from birth to 12 months of age raised under semi-intensive system in South-eastern Botswana. Measurements were recorded in 15 castrates, 15 intact males and 15 female Tswana goat kids randomly selected at birth. Ultrasonic fat and muscle depths were measured at the first, third/fourth, sixth/seventh, ninth/tenth and 12th/13th thoracic; first, third and fifth lumbar and first, second/third and fourth/fifth sternal vertebrae, fortnightly for the first 6 months and then monthly for the remaining 6 months. The animals were stunned and humanely slaughtered at 12 months of age, and ultrasound and shatterproof ruler were used to measure fat and muscle depths on the carcasses at similar sites as on live animals. A real-time B-mode ultrasound scanner fitted with LV2-1 probe operating at 7.5 MHz (Explorer V5 Vet Laptop B-Ultrasonic Scanner UMC Technology Development Co., Ltd, China) was used to predict ultrasound measurements on live animals and their carcasses. Data were analysed using general linear model in statistical analysis system. Muscle depth measurements increased significantly (p?<?0.05) with age in all sites of measurements. However, there was no significant difference between the sexes at different sites of muscle depth measurements at the same age. Muscle depth at the sternal vertebrae was significantly deeper (almost 55 mm at 12 months of age) than 16 mm at thoracic and 16 mm at lumbar vertebrae at 12 and 8 months of age, respectively. No subcutaneous fat depth measurements were recorded in the lumbar vertebrae (0.00?±?0.00) and the thoracic (0.00?±?0.00) regions in all sex groups. However, fourth and fifth sternal vertebrae showed considerably deeper amount of subcutaneous fat suitable for taking fat measurements as age increases (2.07?±?0.23 mm females, 1.50?±?0.43 mm intact males and 1.80?±?0.38 mm castrates) at 12 months of age. All correlations between live and carcass ultrasound measurements and also between ultrasound carcass and ruler measurements were very high (r ²?=?0.96 to 1.00) for all the sexes indicating that live ultrasound measurements are suitable for use in this meat breed. More research is needed to evaluate the relationships between live ultrasonic measurements and carcass yield in the different sexes of Tswana goat kids.     

Level and period of realimentation to assess improvement in body condition and carcass quality in cull ewes

Improvement in body condition was assessed in 40 cull ewes (>6 years), equally distributed in two groups and realimented with ad libitum roughage (gram straw) and two levels of concentrate feeding, i.e., 2.5 % (T₁) of live weight (LW) and ad libitum (T₂). Five representative animals from an initial 45 were slaughtered at the initiation of the study (0 day) and five animals from each treatment at 44, 67, and 90 days of experiment for carcass attributes. Improvement in body condition score (BCS), nutrient utilization, feed efficiency, and carcass traits were assessed at 44, 67, and 90 days. Metabolism trial of 6-day collection of feed, feces, and urine samples was conducted on five representative ewes from each group after 60 days of feeding. The level of concentrate feeding on LW gain and BCS was significant, and the duration of realimentation showed a linear improvement (P?<?0.001). The digestibility and intake of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein was higher (P?<?0.05) in T₂. The N intake, absorption, and balance showed a similar trend. Increase (P?<?0.05) in total N, trichloroacetic acid precipitable N, and ammonia N was observed with extension of realimentation period. Blood metabolic profile also showed improvement (P?<?0.05) from an undernourished state to normal after alimentation. Animals in T₂ accumulated higher LW with minimal expenditure of metabolizable energy (73.4 vs 79.1 MJ) and higher efficiency of feed conversion during 68 to 90 days of realimentation. Linear improvement (P?<?0.01) in carcass traits (preslaughter weight, empty live weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and amount of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat) and composition of longissimus dorsi muscle was observed. Ad lib concentrate supplementation for a period of 90 days may thus be considered appropriate for achieving desired efficiency of gain and improvement in body condition of cull ewes for quality mutton production.     

波杂肉羊屠宰性能及肉品质研究

选取同等饲养条件下的6月龄、周岁及成年波杂肉羊各8只(公母各半),对其屠宰性能及肉品质进行系统的研究。结果表明:年龄和性别对波杂肉羊的宰前活重、胴体重、净肉重和眼肌面积均有显著或极显著的影响;周岁羊和成年羊胴体产肉率、肉骨比相当,显著高于6月龄羊(P<0.05),屠宰率在3个年龄组间差异不显著(P>0.05);性别对屠宰率、胴体产肉率和肉骨比均无明显影响(P>0.05)。肉质方面,成年羊的肉色、嫩度极显著高于6月龄羔羊(P<0.01),但周岁内无显著性变化(P>0.05);失水率在周岁内变化很大,随年龄的增加显著减少,但周岁羊与成年羊间无显著性差异(P>0.05);粗脂肪含量随年龄的增长,呈明显的增加趋势(P<0.01);其它理化指标在3个年龄组中差异均不显著(P>0.05);除母羊肌肉脂肪含量显著高于公羊、周岁内公羊熟肉率显著高于母羊外,其它指标在性别间均无显著差异(P>0.05)。     

Reproductive performance of sows with and without PRRS modified live virus vaccination in PRRS-virus-seropositive herds

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus infection causes reproductive failures including return to oestrus, abortion, mummified foetuses, stillborn, and weak-born piglets. The objective of the present study was to investigate reproductive performance of sows in PRRS-virus-seropositive herds with and without PRRS modified live virus (PRRS-MLV) vaccination. The study was conducted in 20 PRRS-virus-seropositive commercial swine herds in Thailand. The data included 211,009 mating and 180,935 farrowing records. The analysed variables included farrowing rate (FR), return rate (RR), abortion rate (AR), total number of piglets born per litter (TB), number of piglets born alive per litter (BA), percentage of stillborn (SB), percentage of mummified foetuses (MM), and number of piglets weaned per litter (WP). The results revealed that FR in non-vaccinated sows was lower than that in vaccinated sows (85.0 vs 89.7 %, respectively, P?<?0.001), and RR in non-vaccinated sows was higher than that in vaccinated sows (6.9 vs 3.7 %, respectively, P?<?0.001). AR did not differ significantly between non-vaccinated and vaccinated sows (1.6 and 2.0 %, respectively, P?=?0.964). TB (11.2 and 11.5, respectively, P?<?0.001), BA (10.0 and 10.6, respectively, P?<?0.001), and WP (9.2 and 9.6, respectively, P?<?0.001) in non-vaccinated sows were lower than those in vaccinated sows. SB (6.9 and 5.1 %, respectively, P?<?0.001) and MM (3.2 and 2.2 %, respectively, P?<?0.001) in PRRS-MLV-vaccinated sows were higher than those in non-vaccinated sows. The improvement in sow reproductive performance in PRRS-MLV-vaccinated herds was most pronounced in gilts and primiparous sows.     

Shade effects on feeding behavior,feed intake,and daily gain of weight in female goat kids

Solar radiation and high ambient temperatures negatively affect feeding time, performance, and animal welfare in several species. The provision of shade is a simple method that helps to minimize the negative effects. To determine whether shade influences feeding behavior, feed intake, and daily weight gain (DWG) in female goat kids, 40 dairy goat kids were used in 2 similar pens whose feeders were shaded (n = 20) or unshaded (n = 20) during 60 days. From May to July, behavioral data were collected through 10-minute scan samples during a 24-hour period for a total of 300 hours. Both pens were shaded on the opposite side to the feeder with 15 m² each in a resting area. All goat kids were observed for their position inside the pen, and the number of times they were seen eating was recorded. When the concentrate was provided (between 13:00 and 13:30 hours, as usually in the farm), the time was recorded until >50% of the animals stopped feeding and went back to the resting area (concentrate test). Food wastes were collected and weighed daily to calculate the food consumption. Ambient and black globe temperatures were daily recorded. Body weight was recorded every week to calculate DWG. A higher percentage of animals feeding was recorded in the shaded feeders than that in the unshaded feeders (P < 0.05). Food refusal was higher in the unshaded feeders (30 ± 1.8%) than that in the shaded feeders (25 ± 1.9%; P = 0.05). The concentrate test duration was 26.6 minutes (±1.3) in the shaded feeders and 16.1 minutes (±1) in the unshaded feeders (P < 0.05). The concentrate test duration was negatively correlated to the ambient temperature in the unshaded animals (r = ?0.50 and r² = 0.25; P = 0.02), and it was not significant in the shaded ones (r = ?0.23, r² = 0.05; P > 0.05). DWG was not different between groups (0.08 ± 0.03 kg per group; P > 0.05). Results suggest that shade on feeders helps to ameliorate some negative effects of solar radiation increasing feeding time and feed intake in female goat kids. This could be of great interest to prevent performance and welfare negative affectations.     

Sex and age differences in meat composition of Yeso sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) reared for a short period after capture in the wild

Yeso sika deer captured in winter around Lake Akan in Hokkaido were reared for 8–10 months at Tokyo University of Agriculture in Abashiri. Six 1‐year‐old females and males and six 2‐year‐old or older (adult) females and males were slaughtered and their carcasses were processed. The chemical composition, mineral contents and fatty acid composition of the loin were measured. No marked influence of gender or age was noted in the chemical composition of loin. In the mineral contents, significant differences were noted. The potassium and sulfur contents were lower and the sodium content was higher in adult deer meat (P < 0.05, respectively) and the potassium content was higher in male deer meat (P < 0.05). Arsenic, cadmium or lead were not detected. In the unsaturated fatty acid, a significant interaction was detected (P < 0.05), and it was high in 1‐year‐old female deer meat and low in 1‐year‐old male deer meat. Significant gender or age differences were noted only in the mineral contents in the loin of deer reared for a short period after capture.     

Effect of replacing soybean protein with protein from porcupine joint vetch (Aeschynomene histrix BRA 9690) and stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis Composite) leaf meal on growth performance of native (Moo Lath) Lao pigs

The effect of replacing soybean crude protein (CP) with legume leaf meal (LLM) CP on feed intake, growth performance and carcass traits was studied in native female Moo Lath Lao pigs. The diets comprised one traditional diet (T) without soybean meal, one control diet (C) with soybean meal and six diets iso-nitrogenous with diet C in which soybean protein was replaced (33, 66 and 100 % of CP) with LLM CP from porcupine joint vetch (PLM) or Stylosanthes (SLM). Feed and water were offered ad libitum. Replacing soybean CP with LLM CP reduced (P?<?0.05) intake of dry matter (DMI), CP (CPI), metabolisable energy (MEI), final body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), but had no effect (P?>?0.05) on feed conversion ratio (FCR). Increasing the replacement rate of soybean CP with LLM CP had a negative linear effect (P?<?0.001) on DMI, CPI, MEI, final BW and ADG, and on all carcass traits except lean meat percentage. There were no differences in dressing percentage or organ weight and length between treatments. Supplementing diet T with soybean meal resulted in higher (P?<?0.05) DMI, CPI and MEI, lower (P?<?0.05) FCR, and higher (P?<?0.05) final BW and ADG. Slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, eye muscle thickness, back fat, fat in carcass and lean meat were lower (P?<?0.05) with diet T than diet C. In conclusion, LLM from stylo and porcupine joint vetch can be used as a CP source to partially replace soybean meal CP in the diet of growing native female Moo Lath Lao pigs.     

Growth performance,blood parameters,carcass characteristics and meat quality traits in Potchefstroom Koekoek chickens fed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lippia javanica</Emphasis> leaf meal

Lippia javanica leaves may have nutraceutical bioactivity and thus could be a viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry diets. To test this hypothesis, a feeding trial was carried out to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of Lippia javanica leaf meal (LJ) on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics and meat quality of indigenous Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) chickens. The leaf meal was used to dilute a commercial chicken grower diet at a rate of 25 or 50 g/kg diet. Two additional experimental diets, a positive control (commercial chicken grower diet with antibiotics, CON+) and a negative control (commercial chicken grower diet without antibiotics, CON–), were also formulated. Feed intake and growth performance were measured over a period of 13 weeks before slaughtering for carcass and meat quality measurements. Blood was collected in week 11 to determine haematological and serum biochemical parameters. Diet had no effect on overall FCE but significantly (P?<?0.05) affected bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), sodium, potassium, cholesterol and magnesium levels in blood. When included at 50 g/kg, LJ increased carcass weight (P?<?0.05). Meat from CON– (6.07) and LJ50 (6.08) chickens had a higher pH than from CON+ (5.9) and LJ25 (5.8) chickens. Breast muscle in CON– chickens had higher (P?<?0.05) lightness (L*) value (53.2) compared to chickens fed on other diets. It was observed that meat from LJ25 chickens had the highest for redness value (2.3). It was concluded that L. javanica leaf meal can be included up to 50 g/kg in Potchefstroom koekoek chicken diets without causing negative effects on the birds’ feed intake, utilisation and weight gain. Diet-induced changes observed in blood parameters and meat quality fell within the expected normal ranges for indigenous chickens.     

Effects of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) essential oils as dietary antioxidant supplementation on carcass and meat quality of goat meat

Despite the fact that the use of rosemary and thyme residues and essential oils in animal feeding was widely documented, that of myrtle is scarce. To test the hypothesis that myrtle essential oils (MEOs) could improve goats' carcass characteristics and meat quality traits, twenty-one male goats received a ration consisted of 40% oat hay and 60% concentrate. Experimental goat kids received the control diet supplemented with 0, 0.3 and 0.6% of myrtle essential oils (MEOs) for C, Myrt1 and Myrt2 groups respectively. The administration of MEO did not improve the daily DM intake (p > 0.05). Kids of C and Myrt2 groups had higher average daily gain than Myrt1 group (75 versus 55 g). The goats slaughtered at 19.9 kg of weight did not differ (p > 0.05) in carcass weights and carcass yield in terms of commercial dressing percentage (CDP = 41%) and real dressing percentage (RDP = 52%). The administration of MEO increased the meat polyphenol content, being higher in both Myrtle groups (87 versus. 56 μg gallic acid equivalents g^-1 fresh matter, p < 0.05). Myrtle EO administration protected kids’ meat against oxidation (0.48 versus. 0.91 mg MDA/kg of meat for Myrtle and C groups, respectively, at the 9th day of storage; p < 0.05). It could be useful to include MEO as a dietary supplement in goats’ rations since it improves meat's oxidative status without negative effects on FA profile.     

云岭黑山羊与波云F1代山羊的育肥及肉质性能的研究

通过对9月龄波×师F₁代、波×文F₁代、波×楚F₁代、师宗黑山羊、文山黑山羊、楚雄黑山羊进行育肥和屠宰试验,结果表明,在放牧＋补饲条件下,波×师F₁代、波×文F₁代和波×楚F₁代羊的平均日增重(分别为137.2、133.1和132.3 g)明显高于师宗黑山羊、文山黑山羊和楚雄黑山羊的平均日增重（分别为103.6、102.3和101.6 g）,且差异极显著;在全放牧条件下,波×师F₁代、波×文F₁代和波×楚F₁代羊的平均日增重(分别为74.2、72.1和73.5 g)也高于师宗黑山羊、文山黑山羊和楚雄黑山羊的平均日增重（分别为48.7、47.8和46.1 g）,差异极显著（P<0.01）;对放牧＋补饲育肥条件下的波×师F₁代、波×文F₁代、波×楚F₁代、师宗黑山羊、文山黑山羊、楚雄黑山羊每组随机抽取6只做屠宰测定,师宗黑山羊、文山黑山羊、楚雄黑山羊的屠宰率、净肉率、眼肌面积等都低于波×师F₁代、波×文F₁代、波×楚F₁代羊,差异显著（P<0.05）。羊肉品味评定综合口感差异不显著（P＞0.05）,表明各波杂F₁代羊肉的品质与云岭黑山羊羊肉的品质近似。     

Growth and carcass quality of offspring in response to porcine somatotropin (pST) treatment of sows during early pregnancy

The effects of maternal treatment with porcine somatotropin (pST) during early gestation on offspring growth, carcass quality, and immunological characteristics were determined. Thirty-two sows received daily injections of either a placebo (n=16) or 6 mg of pST (n=16) from day 10 to 27 of gestation with gradual withdrawal until day 37. In neonatal piglets, a birth weight group (BWG) by treatment interaction (P<0.01) revealed decreases in the 25% heavy and 50% middle weight groups and an increase in the 25% low weight group within litters. Similar interactions were observed for muscle tissue (P=0.03) and, in opposite direction, for fat (P=0.05) percentages. The average percentage of muscle tissue was reduced (P=0.03) by pST treatment, whereas percentages of internal organs (P=0.05) and skin (P=0.04) were enhanced. The susceptibility of piglets to infections at 2 days after weaning (day 30 of age) was not altered by pST treatment. Carcasses of slaughter pigs (day 182 of age) from pST-treated sows tended to deposit less meat than controls (P=0.10) and to exhibit the same BWG by treatment interaction found at birth (P=0.08). Meat quality at slaughter was changed towards higher intramuscular fat content (P=0.01) and drip loss (P=0.01). The results suggest that pST treatment during early gestation results in more balanced litters, but, on average, is not of advantage for carcass quality.