Meat quality of lambs fed silk flower hay (calotropis procera SW) in the diet

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of using silk flower hay replacing corn and soybean meal on physical-chemical and sensorial traits of lamb meat. It was used 32 intact Morada Nova male lambs (12.7 ± 2 kg initial body weigth) on feedlot system, distributed in a completely randomized design with four levels (0, 15, 30 and 45% on dry matter basis). The use of silk flower hay in the diet influenced quality of meat and carcass, leg weight, tissue composition, moisture, juiciness and flavor. Replacing corn (26.67%) and soybean (3.33%) with silk flower hay does not affect the tissue composition, ratios and muscularity index of leg and physical-chemical parameters of semimembranosus muscle of Morada Nova lambs. © 2011 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.