Weaning and concentrate supplementation on the characteristics of carcass cuts and longissimus muscle of Suffolk lambs finished on pasture

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of weaning and concentrate supplementation on the characteristics of carcass cuts and longissimus muscle of Suffolk lambs finished on a Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) pasture. Weaning and concentrate supplementation strategies were evaluated in four finishing systems: i) non-weaned and non-supplemented lambs; ii) non-weaned lambs supplemented with concentrate in creep feeding; iii) weaned and non-supplemented lambs; and iv) weaned lambs supplemented with concentrate. In the systems with weaning, lambs were weaned at 46 ± 6 days of age. In the systems with supplementation, the concentrate was offered daily at 2% of lambs’ body weight. Weaning led to a decrease, whereas supplementation led to an increase in carcass cut weights. Supplemented lambs had lower yields of neck and uncovered ribs, and higher yields of breast + flank and loin. The characteristics of loin eye and fat thickness over the longissimus muscle presented lower values in weaned lambs and higher values in supplemented lambs. Keeping lambs with their dams and offering concentrate supplementation until slaughter are strategies recommended to obtain heavier cuts with increased muscularity and fat content.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Fernandes,Sergio Rodrigo, Monteiro,Alda Lúcia Gomes, Silva,Marina Gabriela Berchiol da, Silva,Cláudio José Araújo da, Zanotelli,Júlia Marina, Rossi Junior,Paulo, Pinto,Pedro Henrique Nicolau
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - EDUEM 2022
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-86722022000100401
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