Meat quality traits of male Herik lambs raised under an intensive fattening system


Uğurlu M., EKİZ B., Teke B., Salman M., Akdağ F., Kaya İ.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES, vol.41, no.3, pp.425-430, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 41 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/vet-1701-79
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.425-430
  • Keywords: Heriks, lamb, pH, meat quality, ULTIMATE PH, SUCKLING LAMBS, LIVE WEIGHT, TENDERNESS, CARCASS, COLOR, BREED, SHEEP, SEX
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine certain meat quality traits of Herik lambs finished under the intensive husbandry conditions. Twenty single male lambs with an average final weight of 42 kg were used in the study. Concentrate feed and fresh water were given ad libitum, whereas 300 g of alfalfa per lamb per day was provided. At 24 h postmortem, the pH levels were 5.51, 5.63, and 5.24 for musculus longissimus dorsi, musculus semitendinosus, and musculus semimembranosus, respectively. The corresponding Warner-Bratzler shear force values (P < 0.001) of cooked meat were 3.359, 2.318, and 3.601 respectively. At 24 h postmortem, the L-star(42.18) and a(star) (19.95) values of Herik lambs were near the acceptable values of L-star(34-35) and a(star)(19.00). At 72 h postmortem, cooking loss and water holding capacity were 34.78% and 10.55%, respectively. Chemical composition traits, namely dry matter (26.35%), protein (22.21%), ether extraction (2.98%), and ash percentage (1.02%), were similar to those of other indigenous breeds. Consequently, these results indicated that the meat of Herik lambs may be suitable for sale after the lambs are raised under an intensive fattening system.