Carcass quality of sheep finished in confinement receiving increasing levels of bagana of carnauba

Abstract

It were evaluated the effects of bagana of carnauba (Copernicia prunifera (Mill.) H.E. Moore) (BC), as roughage source, on carcass characteristics of lambs finished in confinement. Thirty crossbred weaned lambs with 16.9 + 1.56 kg initial average weight and 80-day of age were used. Five diets with increasing levels of substitution of tifton 85 grass (Cynodon spp.) hay (FT) by BC were set: 0%BC and 100%FT; 25%BC and 75%FT; 50%BC and 50%FT; 75%BC and 25%FT; 100%BC and 0%FT. The levels of moisture, protein and ash of meat were not affected by diets. The highest slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight and the yields of both hot carcass and cold carcass decreased as FT was replaced by BC. The chilling loss and fasting loss items were not affected by diets. The greatest values for lengths of carcass and ham, weight of ham, weight of shoulder and weight of loin were observed in control treatment, while the lower values were found in the treatment where the animals received only BC. It was observed effect of diets on percentages of bone tissues of ham and shoulder, and on percentages of bone, fat and connective tissue of the loin. It was concluded that the inclusion of bagana of carnauba in diet negatively interferes on intake and carcass quality of lambs in feedlot.