Grain grinding size of cereals in complete pelleted diets for growing lambs: Effects on animal performance, carcass and meat quality traits. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrés, S.; Jaramillo, E.; Mateo, J.; Caro, I.; Carballo, D.E.; López, S.; Giráldez, F.J.
• Is Part Of: Meat science. Volume 157(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Feed efficiency -- Residual feed intake -- Meat quality -- Fatty acids -- Colour; Meat -- Periodicals; Meat industry and trade -- Periodicals; Viande -- Périodiques; Viande -- Industrie -- Périodiques; Meat; Meat industry and trade; Periodicals; 641.36
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107874
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1740

Abstract

Abstract: The main goal of the present study was to clarify the effects of different grinding particle size of grains (2-mm vs. 6-mm) included in complete pelleted diets (CPD) for fattening lambs on animal performance, carcass and meat quality. Twenty male merino lambs (14.8 kg; n = 10 per group) were fed the corresponding diet ad libitum and slaughtered when they reached 27 kg. No differences were observed in the feed conversion ratio or carcass characteristics. However, lambs fed coarser diets (6 mm) were more efficient with less residual feed intake (−14.0 vs. 15.4 g DM/animal/d; P < .05) than lambs fed the 2 mm CPD. Lambs fed the 6-mm CPD showed higher levels of intramuscular fat and saturated fatty acids. Consequently, increasing the particle size of the grains included in CPD allows for improving feed efficiency and intramuscular fat in fattening lambs. Highlights: Grain grinding sizes of 2 and 6-mm in a complete pelleted lamb's diet were compared. Grinding size had no significant effect on feed conversion and carcass quality. The 6-mm grinding size improves feed efficiency and intramuscular fat content.