Post-mortem characterization of Dorper x Santa Inês lambs fed diets containing alternative foods

The objective of this study was to evaluate the post-mortem characteristics of lambs fed diets containing alternative foods. Twenty lambs, castrated Dorper x Santa Inês males, aged approximately 90 days and with mean weight of 20 kg were used. Experimental diets were composed of ground corn, soybean meal, mineral supplement, urea and Tifton-85 hay (forage). In addition to these ingredients, cottonseed, sunflower meal and castor bean cake were used as alternative foods in the proportions of 10, 8 and 8% of %DM, respectively. The experiment lasted 106 days, with 14 days for adaptation and 92 days for evaluation and data collection. At the end of the confinement period, the lambs were slaughtered, and the carcasses kept under cooling for a period of 24 hours. The measurements of pH, carcass temperature (internal and external) were measured in the Longissimus lumborum muscle, as well as the temperature and relative humidity of the cold chamber were measured. Muscle pH was altered as a function of diet and reached a value of 5.78 (lower pH) when lambs received the diet with castor bean cake. The internal carcass temperature was higher in the lambs that received the diet containing cottonseed (19.98°C), sunflower meal (19.71°C) and castor bean cake (19.87°C). The alternative foods can be used as ingredients in the formulation of diets for Dorper x Santa Inês lamb, for promoting the proper development of the post-mortem process, characteristic of good quality sheep meat.