Journal article
Filling the out of season gaps for lamb and hogget production: Diet and genetic influence on carcass yield, carcass composition and retail value of meat
EN Ponnampalam, MG Kerr, KL Butler, JJ Cottrell, FR Dunshea, JL Jacobs
Meat Science | Elsevier | Published : 2019
Abstract
This study investigated the use of camelina forage and meal supplementation to a finishing diet on carcass traits, composition and retail value of lamb and hoggets. The metabolisable energy and crude protein concentrations of all 3 diets were 10–11 MJ/kg DM and 14–15% CP. Thirty maternal Composite wether lambs (28–38 kg) and 30 Merino wether hoggets (37–43 kg) were used in a 3 × 2 factorial experiment. Animals were slaughtered after 10 weeks of feeding with carcasses classified as ‘Heavy lamb’ or ‘Heavy hogget’ (>22 kg carcass weight). Carcass traits, composition, meat mineral concentrations and retail colour were measured. Camelina diets increased liveweight (P < 0.02) and carcass weight (P..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (Agriculture Victoria Research) funded this project. The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical contributions of staff from Hamilton, Rutherglen and Bundoora. The camelina forage and camelina meal were purchased from Be Bioenergy, Yarrock Pty Ltd., Kaniva, VIC 3419. We also thank Hardwicks in Kyneton and their staff for assistance on both kill and bone out days and access to their facility for carcass measurements and muscle sample collection.