The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed
This investigation aimed to assess the influence of birth weight on post-weaning fattening performance, meat quality, muscle fibre characteristics, and carcass traits in Karayaka lambs. The study categorized the lambs into three distinct groups based on birth weight: low birth weight (LBW), medium b...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/704 |
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| author | Emre Şirin Uğur Şen Yüksel Aksoy Ümran Çiçek Zafer Ulutaş Mehmet Kuran |
| author_facet | Emre Şirin Uğur Şen Yüksel Aksoy Ümran Çiçek Zafer Ulutaş Mehmet Kuran |
| author_sort | Emre Şirin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This investigation aimed to assess the influence of birth weight on post-weaning fattening performance, meat quality, muscle fibre characteristics, and carcass traits in Karayaka lambs. The study categorized the lambs into three distinct groups based on birth weight: low birth weight (LBW), medium birth weight (MBW), and high birth weight (HBW). Throughout the fattening phase, the lambs were given <i>ad libitum</i> access to food and water, culminating in the slaughter at the end of the study. Following slaughter, warm and cold carcasses were weighted, and specific muscles (longissimus thoracis et lumborum [LTL], semitendinosus [ST], and semimembranosus [SM]) were isolated for the evaluation of muscle weights, muscle fibre types (Type I, Type IIA, and Type IIB), and muscle fibre numbers. Carcass characteristics were also determined, including eye muscle (LTL) fat, loin thickness, and meat quality characteristics, such as pH, colour, texture, cooking loss, and water-holding capacity. The statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences among the experimental groups concerning muscle weights and warm and cold carcass weights (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with the lambs in the HBW group exhibiting a notably higher carcass yield (in females: 45.65 ± 1.34% and in males: 46.18 ± 0.77%) and LTL, ST, and SM (except for female lambs) muscle weights than the lambs in LBW group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). However, apart from the texture of LTL and ST muscles, no significant differences in meat quality parameters were observed among the treatment groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Notably, the birth weight of lambs did not impart a discernible effect on the total number and metabolic activity of muscle fibres in LTL, ST, and SM muscles. Nonetheless, a noteworthy distinction in the fibre area of Type I fibres in the LTL muscle of male lambs (LBW: 30.4 ± 8.9, MBW: 29.1 ± 7.3 and HBW; 77.3 ± 15.4) and in the ST muscle of female lambs (LBW: 44.1 ± 8.1, MBW: 38.8 ± 7.7 and HBW: 36.9 ± 7.1) were evident among the birth weight groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The study also found that the mean fat thickness values of eye muscles in Karayaka lambs, as obtained by ultrasonic tests, were below the typical range for sheep. In synthesis, the outcomes of this study underscore the considerable impact of birth weight on slaughtered and carcass weights, emphasizing the positive association between higher birth weights and enhanced carcass yield. Remarkably, despite these pronounced effects on carcass traits, the birth weight did not demonstrate a statistically significant influence on meat quality or overall muscle fibre characteristics, except for the area of Type I fibres in the LTL muscle. This nuanced understanding contributes valuable insights into the intricate relationship between birth weight and various physiological and carcass parameters in Karayaka lambs undergoing post-weaning fattening. |
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| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-8307a4f2f291409db41399a9c3a59fa82024-03-12T16:37:57ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-02-0114570410.3390/ani14050704The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native BreedEmre Şirin0Uğur Şen1Yüksel Aksoy2Ümran Çiçek3Zafer Ulutaş4Mehmet Kuran5Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, 40100 Kırşehir, TürkiyeDepartment of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55139 Samsun, TürkiyeDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26160 Eskişehir, TürkiyeDepartment of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, 60100 Tokat, TürkiyeDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139 Samsun, TürkiyeDepartment of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55139 Samsun, TürkiyeThis investigation aimed to assess the influence of birth weight on post-weaning fattening performance, meat quality, muscle fibre characteristics, and carcass traits in Karayaka lambs. The study categorized the lambs into three distinct groups based on birth weight: low birth weight (LBW), medium birth weight (MBW), and high birth weight (HBW). Throughout the fattening phase, the lambs were given <i>ad libitum</i> access to food and water, culminating in the slaughter at the end of the study. Following slaughter, warm and cold carcasses were weighted, and specific muscles (longissimus thoracis et lumborum [LTL], semitendinosus [ST], and semimembranosus [SM]) were isolated for the evaluation of muscle weights, muscle fibre types (Type I, Type IIA, and Type IIB), and muscle fibre numbers. Carcass characteristics were also determined, including eye muscle (LTL) fat, loin thickness, and meat quality characteristics, such as pH, colour, texture, cooking loss, and water-holding capacity. The statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences among the experimental groups concerning muscle weights and warm and cold carcass weights (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with the lambs in the HBW group exhibiting a notably higher carcass yield (in females: 45.65 ± 1.34% and in males: 46.18 ± 0.77%) and LTL, ST, and SM (except for female lambs) muscle weights than the lambs in LBW group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). However, apart from the texture of LTL and ST muscles, no significant differences in meat quality parameters were observed among the treatment groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Notably, the birth weight of lambs did not impart a discernible effect on the total number and metabolic activity of muscle fibres in LTL, ST, and SM muscles. Nonetheless, a noteworthy distinction in the fibre area of Type I fibres in the LTL muscle of male lambs (LBW: 30.4 ± 8.9, MBW: 29.1 ± 7.3 and HBW; 77.3 ± 15.4) and in the ST muscle of female lambs (LBW: 44.1 ± 8.1, MBW: 38.8 ± 7.7 and HBW: 36.9 ± 7.1) were evident among the birth weight groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The study also found that the mean fat thickness values of eye muscles in Karayaka lambs, as obtained by ultrasonic tests, were below the typical range for sheep. In synthesis, the outcomes of this study underscore the considerable impact of birth weight on slaughtered and carcass weights, emphasizing the positive association between higher birth weights and enhanced carcass yield. Remarkably, despite these pronounced effects on carcass traits, the birth weight did not demonstrate a statistically significant influence on meat quality or overall muscle fibre characteristics, except for the area of Type I fibres in the LTL muscle. This nuanced understanding contributes valuable insights into the intricate relationship between birth weight and various physiological and carcass parameters in Karayaka lambs undergoing post-weaning fattening.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/704lambbirth weightfatteningmuscle fibremeat quality |
| spellingShingle | Emre Şirin Uğur Şen Yüksel Aksoy Ümran Çiçek Zafer Ulutaş Mehmet Kuran The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed Animals lamb birth weight fattening muscle fibre meat quality |
| title | The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed |
| title_full | The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed |
| title_short | The Effect of Birth Weight on Fattening Performance, Meat Quality, and Muscle Fibre Characteristics in Lambs of the Karayaka Native Breed |
| title_sort | effect of birth weight on fattening performance meat quality and muscle fibre characteristics in lambs of the karayaka native breed |
| topic | lamb birth weight fattening muscle fibre meat quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/5/704 |
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