Supplemental zinc in fattening lambs improves their health, performance, and
meat quality. However, the Zn effect on grazing animals combined with different levels of
concentrate should be known unknown. The objective was to evaluate the Zn-organic effect
in the diet of grazing lambs supplemented with two levels of concentrate on growth, dry
matter (DM) intake, carcass traits, body composition, meat quality, and fatty acid profile
in Longissimus dorsi muscle. Twenty-eight lambs were used in a fa…
Read moreSupplemental zinc in fattening lambs improves their health, performance, and
meat quality. However, the Zn effect on grazing animals combined with different levels of
concentrate should be known unknown. The objective was to evaluate the Zn-organic effect
in the diet of grazing lambs supplemented with two levels of concentrate on growth, dry
matter (DM) intake, carcass traits, body composition, meat quality, and fatty acid profile
in Longissimus dorsi muscle. Twenty-eight lambs were used in a factorial arrangement
of two levels of concentrate (C) feed intake (C-0.75 and C-1.5% of live weight) and two
Zn-Met levels (0 and 80 ppm Zn kg−1 DM) on the grazing of Lolium perenne L. Digestibility
and dry matter intake, weight gain, and productive performance were measured. At
the end of the fattening period (90 d), the lambs were slaughtered and the carcass traits,
body composition, instrumental quality, and lipid profile of meat were evaluated. The
effect of treatment (T), measurement period (P), and T × P interaction was observed
(p < 0.05) for dry matter intake (DMI). For the final live weight (FLW) and daily weight
gain (DWG), there was an effect (p < 0.05) of T and P, with Zn-80 ppm + C-1.5% treatment
being greater. The live weight at slaughter (LWS) and leg length (LL) showed an effect
(p < 0.05) of C × Zn. Zn-80 ppm + C-1.5% treatment was higher in the kidney fat, empty
body weight, carcass fat, fat and retained energy but lower in protein content (p < 0.05). The
physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid content of meat were not affected (p > 0.05).
It can be concluded that the concentrated-organic zinc synergy in grazing lambs improved
the performance, weight gain, and body composition, which resulted in heavier carcasses
with greater amounts of fat, protein, and energy deposited. Furthermore, the physical and
chemical meat traits were not affected, but the n-3 fatty acid content and n-3/n-6 ratio in
Longissimus dorsi was affected by the Zn level supplemented.
