Production and meat quality attributes of lambs fed varying levels of Acacia mearnsii leaf-meal as replacement for Triticum aestivum bran. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Uushona, Tulimo; Chikwanha, Obert C.; Katiyatiya, Chenaimoyo L.F.; Strydom, Phillip E.; Mapiye, Cletos
• Is Part Of: Meat science. Volume 196(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Small ruminants -- Carcass attributes -- Growth performance -- Leaf-meal tannins; 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.2022.109042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1740

Abstract

Abstract: The study evaluated the effects of substituting increasing levels of Acacia mearnsii leaf-meal (AMLM) for Triticum aestivum bran in lamb finishing diets on growth, carcass, and meat quality attributes. Forty, 3-months-old lambs with an average live weight of 25.7 ± 1.60 kg were allocated to one of the five dietary inclusion levels of AMLM (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg DM; n = 8) in a completely randomised design for 42 days. Dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, carcass weights, dressing percentage and income over feed costs exhibited quadratic ( P ≤ 0.05) responses to the addition of AMLM peaking at 100 g/kg DM inclusion level. Meat ultimate pH, moisture and lightness increased linearly ( P ≤ 0.05) while intramuscular fat and shear force declined linearly (P ≤ 0.05) with increasing levels of AMLM. In conclusion, AMLM can replace up to 100 g/kg DM of T. aestivum bran in lamb finisher diets without impairing meat production and quality.