Qualidade da carne de ovelhas de descarte terminadas em pastagem de azevém e alto grão

Abstract

It was aimed to evaluate the effect of different finishing diets of cull ewes on productive development, carcass characteristics and meat quality. Forty-one animals were randomly distributed in two finishing systems (pasture or feedlot) and six treatments: RY (animals finished on ryegrass), RYGO (ryegrass + 1.5 % of live weight of oats whole grain), RYGC (ryegrass + 1.5 % of live weight of corn whole grain), GC (finished on feedlot with 72% of corn whole grain +13% of soya bran + 15% of protein nucleus and mineral), GO (90% of oats whole grain + 10% of protein nucleus and mineral), GS (80% of sorghum whole grain + 5% soya bran + 15% of protein nucleus and mineral). During the experiment animal performance data was collected and when females reached the body condition score (BCS) 3, they were taken to slaughter. It was subsequently carried out carcass characterization, sub products and evaluation of meat quality. Animals finished on feedlot presented a higher gain of daily weight and giblets weight, having a better performance in GC (0,191g/d) and GS (0,179g/d) treatments. On the other hand, RY treatment provided higher lipid stability, as well as, lower values of yellow tonality and luminosity, indicating coloring stability. Additionally, RY animals presented higher values of Linolenic Acid and sum of n-3. There was no statistical difference between RY and diets based on conjoint pasture and high grain (RYGO and RYGC) for Conjugated Linoleic Acid and n-6/n-3 relation. Animals finished on high grain supplementation pasture presented intermediate levels of TBARS and, despite presenting similarities with RY animals it is observed a convergence of results towards confined animals. It was concluded that high grain feedlot contribute to productive performance, whereas finishing on ryegrass pasture increments cull ewes meat quality.