Comparative slaughter performance and carcass quality of three Ethiopian fat-tailed hair sheep breeds supplemented with two levels of concentrate.

A study was conducted to compare carcass and noncarcass yield, carcass composition, conformation, and fat depot partitioning of three Ethiopian fat-tailed hair sheep breeds (Blackhead Ogaden (BHO), Horro, and Washera) under two concentrate supplement levels (CSL). Sixteen sheep from each genotype (8 sheep per concentrate level), a total of 48, were used in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (3 breeds and 2 CSL). The two CSL were 1% (L1) and 1.75% (L2) body weight. Animals were about a year of age at the start of the experiment and all were slaughtered after 90 days of fattening. Dressing percentage per SBW was in the orders of Horro > BHO = Washera (P < 0.001). Total edible noncarcass component yield per EBW (TENCCY/EBW) of Horro breed (21%) was heavier (P < 0.0001) by about 2.8% than that from BHO and Washera sheep. Blackhead Ogaden sheep had significantly (P < 0.05) higher fat percentage and fat to bone ratio, while lower lean to fat ratio than Horro and Washera sheep. The fat partitioning results showed that carcass depot is the major fat depot in BHO and Horro sheep, whereas carcass fat and tail fat in Washera sheep had comparable value. The highest (P < 0.0001) carcass compactness index (CCI) value was obtained in Horro sheep, while the value for Washera was the lowest coupled with leg compactness index; as a result, Washera sheep had poor carcass conformation. Sheep supplemented with L2 had heavier HCW and CCW (P < 0.0001), wider RMA, and dressed better (P < 0.001) than L1-fed sheep. Carcass fat per CCW, carcass fat per total body fat (TBF), TYEP per SBW, and CCI values of the L2 diet-fed group were 2.7, 1.8, 1.2%, and 13.2 g/cm, respectively, higher (P < 0.05) than L1-supplemented sheep. The result highlights that Horro and Washera have closely comparable carcass composition, indicating the two breeds were at a similar stage of physiological maturity, while BHO appeared to be an early maturing sheep, suggesting a need for different feeding management for BHO to harvest lean meat. In conclusion, there existed a significant breed variation in most parameters considered in this study, which can be an opportunity to select breeds for various use and production objectives.

Effects of grazing cow diet on volatile compounds as well as physicochemical and sensory characteristics of 12-month-ripened Montasio cheese.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture type and cow feeding supplementation level on a 12-mo-ripened Montasio protected designation of origin (PDO) cheese, which is one of the most important PDO cheeses produced in northeast Italy. Cheeses were characterized for volatile compounds, color, mechanical variables, and sensory descriptors. Pasture type significantly affected most of the instrumental variables considered and, as a consequence, sensory properties were affected as well. Cheeses from the pasture characterized by a nutrient-rich vegetation type were higher in protein and lower in fat content. Furthermore, such cheeses, evaluated by a sensory panel, were more intense in color with a more pungent and less cow-like odor, in agreement with what found through instrumental analyses. Supplementation level resulted in less pronounced effects, limited to volatile compounds and texture properties, which were not detected by sensory analysis. The characterization of the 12-mo ripened Montasio cheese reported here is an important step for the valorization of this PDO product.

Consumo e digestibilidade de nutrientes em novilhos suplementados e terminados em pasto, na seca / Intake and digestibility of nutrients in steers supplemented and finished on pasture in the dry season

Avaliaram-se o consumo e a digestibilidade de nutrientes por novilhos Nelore suplementados com elevado teor de proteína na terminação, em pasto, durante a seca. Foram utilizados quatro novilhos com 30 meses e peso médio inicial de 440kg, distribuídos em quadrado latino 4x4 (quatro níveis de suplementação e quatro períodos de 16 dias). Foram usados quatro piquetes de um hectare de capim Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, e os animais receberam: 0 (grupo-controle); 1,0; 2,0; ou 4,0kg de suplemento/dia. Os suplementos, à exceção do controle, apresentaram níveis decrescentes de proteína bruta (58 a 32 por cento da matéria seca) e proporções de mistura mineral:ureia:farelos de 10:10:80, 5:5:90 e 2,5:2,5:95 para os respectivos tratamentos. O consumo e a digestibilidade foram determinados com o uso do óxido crômico e FDAi, o delineamento estatístico foi em quadrado latino, e os tratamentos foram avaliados pela análise de regressão. Houve efeito linear crescente sobre o consumo e sobre os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo e fibra em detergente neutro, e sobre o consumo de nutrientes digestíveis totais. Não houve efeito sobre o consumo de pasto e o consumo e a digestibilidade dos carboidratos não fibrosos. Os suplementos avaliados em geral melhoraram o consumo e a digestibilidade e, consequentemente, o valor nutritivo da dieta de novilhos em terminação sob pastejo, no período da seca.

The effects of supplements with high protein content on intake and digestibility were evaluated in Nellore steers finished at pasture during the dry season. Four steers avering 30-month old and initial weight of 440kg were distributed in a 4x4 Latin square (four levels of supplementation and four periods of 16 days). Four paddocks of one hectare containing Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania grass were utilized and the animals received 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0kg of supplement/day, in addition to a control - mineral mixture. The supplements, except control, presented decreasing levels of crude protein (58 to 32 percent in dry matter) and the proportions of mineral mixture:urea:cereal meals were 10:10:80, 5:5:90, and 2.5:2.5:95 for the treatments. The intake and digestibility were determined with the use of chromium oxide and ADFi. The statistical design was Latin square and the treatments were evaluated by regression analysis. There was an increasing linear effect on the intakes and digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and intake of total digestible nutrients. There was no effect on the intake of pasture and intake and digestibility of non-fiber carbohydrates. It can be concluded that the evaluated supplements generally improve the intake and digestibility and consequently the nutritive value of the diets of finishing animals on the pasture during the dry season.

Desempenho de novilhos suplementados e terminados em pasto, na seca, e avaliação do pasto / Performance of steers supplemented and finished on pasture in the dry season and pasture evaluation

Avaliaram-se o ganho de peso e as características de carcaça de novilhos Nelore suplementados com elevado teor de proteína na terminação em pasto, durante a seca, e estimou-se a disponibilidade dos componentes da pastagem. O experimento foi implantado em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandu, em seis piquetes de nove hectares. Foram utilizados 48 novilhos Nelore com 30 meses de idade e 415±16 kg. Cada lote, alojado em um piquete, foi pesado no início e a cada 21 dias, durante 84 dias. A suplementação constou de: 0 (grupo-controle); 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; ou 4,0 kg/animal/dia. Os suplementos, à exceção do controle, apresentaram porcentagens decrescentes de proteína bruta (111 a 32 por cento da matéria seca) e proporções de mistura mineral:ureia:farelos de 25:25:50; 15:15:70; 10:10:80; 5:5:90 e 2,5:2,5:95, para os respectivos tratamentos. O delineamento foi o inteiramente ao acaso e os tratamentos foram avaliados pela análise de regressão. A proporção de colmo e folha seca aumentou no decorrer dos períodos experimentais, caracterizando o déficit hídrico da estação seca. Houve efeito linear crescente sobre o peso vivo final, ganho médio diário, peso de carcaça, espessura de gordura subcutânea e rendimento de carcaça em função do consumo de suplemento. A conversão do suplemento em kg/kg de ganho de peso, de 10:1, é típica de suplementação energética, mostrando que os animais não responderam satisfatoriamente à suplementação proteica.

Daily gain and carcass traits of Nellore steers fed different levels of supplementation with high content of protein at finishing during the dry season and the availability of the components of the pasture were evaluated. The experiment was carried out on pasture of Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandu, in six paddocks of nine hectares. Forty-eight Nellore steers averaging 30-month old and 415+16kg were used. Each group was allocated in a paddock, being weighted in the beginning and every 21 days, during 84 days. The levels of supplements were: 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0kg/animal/day, in addition to a control (mineral mixture). The supplements, except the control, presented decreasing levels of crude protein (111 to 32 percent of the dry matter) and proportions of mineral mixture:urea:concentrate feeds of 25:25:50, 15:15:70, 10:10:80, 5:5:90, and 2.5:2.5:95, respectively. The statistical design was completely randomized and the treatments were evaluated by regression analysis. The proportion of stem and dead leaf increased in elapsing of the experimental periods characterizing water deficit in the dry season. There was increasing linear effect on the final live weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, fat thickness, and carcass yield as a function of supplement intake. The supplement conversion in kg/kg of weight gain, at 10:1, is typical of energetic supplementation, showing that the animals did not satisfactorily respond to protein supplementation, which would give better values of conversion.