Effect of inclusion of alfalfa hay in the diet and gender on carcass and meat characteristics of Katahdin × Pelibuey lambs

ABSTRACT Dietary alfalfa hay could improve carcass and meat characteristics of lambs, however, information on hair breeds according to consumer demands is incomplete. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary alfalfa hay and gender on carcass characteristics and physico-chemical properties of Katahdin × Pelibuey lmabs (F1). Thirty-six male and twenty-four female lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: two diets, with or without alfalfa hay (AH) and two genders (male and female). Dry matter Intake (DMI) of male lambs was higher than females (1.360 vs 1.267 kg/d), daily weight gain (DWG) (0.262 vs 0.212 g), live slaughter weight (40.2 vs 37.8 kg), hot carcass weight (HCW) (20.0 vs 18.8 kg), temperature (9.57 vs 5.98°C) and highest pentadecanoic (1.42 vs 0.74%), linoleic (4.86 vs 3.04%) and tricosanoic acid content (2.43 vs 1.26%) in Longissimus lumborurm muscle (LLM). The meat pH ranged from 5.1 to 6.0. Protein and lipid average values were 19.2 and 5.1%, respectively. Lambs fed alfalfa diet had similar physicochemical characteristics than those fed concentrate feed, indicating the possibility of producing lamb meat using alfalfa. Meat of male lambs had the highest linoleic acid content, which provides positive health benefits to the consumers.