ABSTRACT. The physicochemical characteristics of the meat from lambs fed diets containing whole or disintegrated cottonseed, associated or not with calcium lignosulfonate (LignoCaSO3), were evaluated. Thirty non-castrated Dorper x Santa Inês lambs, with an average of 24.9 ± 3.6 kg and four months of age were confined for 60 days in collective stalls and distributed in a completely randomized design with six replications. After slaughter, by means of contrasts, the averages of the parameters of the semimembranous and semitendinosus muscles were analyzed. The cottonseed increased cooking loss and ash, and reduced muscle weight, water holding capacity and red intensity. The disintegration of the cottonseed reduced the shear force in diets without LignoCaSO3, increased the protein and the loss by cooking and reduced the pH in the diets with the additive. The luminosity values increased with the disintegration of the cottonseed in diets with and without LignoCaSO3. The addition of LignoCaSO3 increased the weight of the muscle, protein, ash, pH, shear strength and the intensity of red. Moisture, lipids and yellow intensity were not influenced by the diets. Even changing the physical-chemical characteristics, the cottonseed with or without LignoCaSO3 does not change the quality of the meat.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of use of agroindustrial co-products in the diet of lambs on the performance and nutritional quality of meat fat. Twenty lambs were distributed into four experimental groups: control diet (C) or diets containing cottonseed (CS), sunflower meal (SFM), and castor cake (CC). During the experimental period, data on dry matter consumption (DMC) and total weight gain (TWG) were collected. After slaughter, samples of Logissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were taken for fatty acids and cholesterol analysis. Diets C and CS provided similar characteristics of fat quality and animal performance. However, SFM and CC diets tend to form isolated groups, with different fat and performance characteristics. The SFM diet results in meat with a higher saturated fatty acids and cholesterol content. The CC diet is related to improved performance characteristics and lower cholesterol content. In conclusion, the inclusion of CC in the experimental diets provided, in the proportions used in this experiment, better characteristics of animal performance and meat fat quality.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing diet of lambs with agroindustrial co-products on the nutritional quality of meat fat and study the variation of fat quality parameters based on the type of muscle. Twenty lambs were distributed into four experimental groups and fed a control diet or diets containing cottonseed, sunflower meal, and castor cake. After 106 experimental days, the animals were slaughtered. Samples of Biceps femoris, Longissimus dorsi, Semimembranosus, and Triceps brachii muscles were taken for fatty acid and cholesterol analyses. Castor cake and sunflower meal diets produced meats with lower levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) compared with the control diet. Castor cake diet contributed to tissue reduction of n-3 PUFA. Lower conjugated linoleic acid concentration and polyunsaturated:saturated fatty acid (P:S) ratio and higher saturated fatty acids content and Thrombogenicity Index were observed in Longissimus dorsi meat. Of the co-products studied, although castor cake diet reduced cholesterol levels in Biceps femoris muscle, sunflower meal was identified as the preferred choice for lamb feeding, since it reduced n-6 PUFA without, however, decreasing n-3 PUFA. Longissimus dorsi meat had the lowest fat quality indexes. The more oxidative muscles, such as Biceps femoris, tend to generate meats with higher cholesterol concentrations.

The objective of this study was to establish a correlation between the content of total lipids, cholesterol and fatty acid profile of the edible portion of the shoulders of 12 castrated and 12 non-castrated Santa Ines lambs, slaughtered at different ages (84, 168, 210, 252 days). Shoulders and the edible portion (muscle and fat) were weighed and stored at -5 °C. Castrated and uncastrated lambs increased their body weight and half carcass weight, respectively. The shoulder weight increased in the carcasses of uncastrated animals. The edible portion of the shoulders of castrated lamb has greater amount of total lipids (16.09 g/100 g). The cholesterol content was influenced by castration, reducing with age. Santa Ines castrated lambs, under semi-extensive conditions, presented larger amounts of C18:1 T11 and CLA in the edible portion of the shoulder. Castration causes no significant correlation between total lipids, cholesterol and total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids of the edible portion of Santa Ines shoulder lambs from 84 to 252 days of age.

Objetivou-se avaliar a degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca, da proteína bruta e da fibra em detergente neutro da silagem de capim elefante com diferentes componentes de algaroba. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 4 tratamentos e 12 repetições, sendo as silagens: 100% de capim elefante; 70% de capim elefante + 30% de farelo de algaroba integral; 70% de capim elefante + 30% de vagem de algaroba; 70% de capim elefante + 30% de amido de algaroba. O capim elefante foi cortado com 100 dias após a rebrota, triturado e ensilado com os componentes de algaroba. Após 60 dias, os silos foram abertos e as amostras foram coletadas para a pré-secagem, moagem e posteriores análises e incubação. Amostras de cada silagem foram incubadas no rúmen de três novilhos Gir X Holandês, por períodos de 0; 3; 6; 12; 24; 48; 72; 96; 120 e 144 horas. Para o conjunto de parâmetros de degradação estudado, observou-se que os diferentes componentes de algaroba na silagem de capim elefante aumentaram a degradabilidade potencial e efetiva, a degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca e proteína bruta. A maior degradabilidade foi observada na silagem com amido de algaroba. A algaroba e seus componentes constituem uma alternativa viável a ser adicionada na silagem de capim elefante, contudo, o amido de algaroba é mais eficiente.

The objective was to evaluate the degradability of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber of elephant grass silage with different components of mesquite. It was used a completely randomized design with twelve treatments and four replications, and silages: 100% elephant grass, elephant grass 70% + 30% bran full mesquite, 70% of elephant grass + 30% pods mesquite, 70% of elephant grass + 30% starch mesquite. The elephant grass was cut to 100 days after sprouting, and ensiled with crushed mesquite components. After 60 days, the silos were opened and samples were collected for pre-drying, grinding and subsequent analysis and incubation. Samples of each silage were incubated in the rumen of three steers Holstein X Gir for periods of 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours. For the set of degradation parameters studied, it was observed that the different components of mesquite in the elephant grass silage increased the potential degradability and effectively increases the degradability of dry matter and crude protein. The higher degradability was observed in mesquite starch silage. The mesquite and its components constitute a viable alternative to be added in the elephant grass silage, however, mesquite starch is more efficient.