Características de carcaça de ovinos mantidos em pasto de Capim-massai e submetidos à suplementação intermitente

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intermittent supplementation on carcass characteristics, weight and yield of commercial meat cuts and leg tissue composition of Santa Inês sheep kept in continuous stocking on Panicum maximum (Megathyrsus maximus) cv. Masai. Eighteen lambs with a mean initial body weight of 17.5 kg ± 3 kg and a mean initial age of 135 days ± 18 days were used, distributed in a completely randomized design and in three treatments, consisting of the following supplementation frequencies: every 24 hours ( 24H), every 48 hours (48H) and every 72 hours (72H), with the equivalent of 1% of body weight. After 120 days of experiment, the animals were slaughtered and their carcasses evaluated. Supplementation frequencies promoted significant effects, with higher values for HCW(8.72kg e 9.11kg), CCW(8.72kg e 9.11kg), EBW (17.60kg e 18.08kg) of animals supplemented every 24h and 48h, respectively. There was no significant difference for carcass yield, commercial meat cuts and leg compactness. However, shoulder (878g and 896g), ribs (740g and 764g) and ham (1513g and 1562g) showed higher average weight in animals that received supplementation every 24h and 48h, respectively. The morphometry of the carcasses were influenced by the intermittence of supplementation, where leg muscularity and carcass compactness showed the highest rates in animals of the 24H frequency (0.343 and 0.154) and 48H (0.346 and 0.160), respectively. Animals kept on Massai grass pasture and supplemented every 24 or 48 hours have better carcass weights and commercial meat cuts compared to those that receive supplementation every 72 hours, so this last supplementation strategy is not recommended.