(MAH) Treated Sunflower. Effects of dietary supplementation in growing lambs

Previous studies measured in situ degradability of MAH-treated SS and SM. It was observed that MAH treatment of both types of feedstuffs increased rumen-undegradable protein by 19.1% and 120% for SS and SM, respectively. Lambs fed with different sources of sunflower fat with a varying degree of susceptibility to ruminal biohydrogenation modified the fatty acid (FA) profile of the Longissimus dorsi in a form-dependent manner (Mejewska et al, 2016.) It was hypothesized that feeding MAH-treated SS and SM to lambs may change the meat (FA) profile towards a less saturated profile by increasing duodenal flow of unsaturated sunflower FA. Considering that both carcass characteristics and meat quality in ruminants are strongly affected by diet, the objective of the following study was to evaluate the influence of feeding MAH-treated sunflower seeds (SS) and meal (SM) on carcass characteristics, meat composition and fatty acid profile of growing lambs The protection of SM and SS was achieved by treating both feeds with malic acid at 150 °C for 2 h (MAH treatment). A previous study revealed that the use of this treatment was able to decrease ruminal degradability of protein in both types of feed as well as reducing (SS) fat degradability.

The Study

Two homogeneous groups of 12 lambs each were fed high-cereal concentrates and cereal straw ad libitum. Starting from 14 to 26 kg of body weight. The two concentrates differed only in the applied treatment on (SM) and (SS). These were included in the diet in either as untreated (control) or MAH treated.

Results

• The group containing MAH-fed lambs presented greater thickness of dorsal fat and greater values for color parameters (redness) and (chromaticity) of the Rectus abdominis muscle .

• MAH treatment did not affect feed intake, average daily gain and hot and cold carcass weights, which reached 12.7 and 12.4 kg for control and 13.7 and 12.8 kg for MAH-fed group, respectively.

• There were no effects (p ≥ 0.134) of MAH concentrate on cooling losses, carcass conformation measurements and metacarpus weight and length

• The measurements of carcass conformation and metacarpus were similar to those reported in other studies with lambs slaughtered at similar body weight.

• The lack of differences in carcass conformation measurements is consistent with the similar composition of the diet and feed intake in both groups of lambs. as the energy and protein intake are main factors affecting lambs’ growth

• No significant differences were observed for: carcass measurements, water-holding capacity, chemical composition, pH, color, or fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle.

Conclusions

• The inclusion of SS and SM treated with malic acid and heat for protecting the protein against ruminal degradation in the concentrate of fattening lambs had no effect on carcass characteristics and meat quality

• Except for an increased amount of dorsal fat and the redness and chromaticity of the Rectus abdominis.

• More studies are needed to investigate the feeding conditions under which this treatment might be useful to improve lamb meat quality.

Source: “Effect of a Diet Supplemented with Malic Acid–Heat (MAH) Treated Sunflower on Carcass Characteristics, Meat Composition and Fatty Acids Profile in Growing Lambs. Animals 2020.“