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PRINT: ISSN 2221-1896
ONLINE : ISSN 2223-0343
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The effect of rumen protected L-carnitine on feedlot performance,
carcass characteristics and blood metabolites in Iranian fat-tailed
Ghezel lambs
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Amanollah Solhjoo1, Ebrahim Rowghani2*, Alireza
Bayat3 and Mohammad Javad Zamiri1
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1Department
of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz,
Iran; 2Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture,
Darab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Darab, Iran; 3Animal
Production Research, MTT, FI 31600, Jokioinen, Finland
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Abstract |
The effect of dietary protected L-carnitine on feedlot performance,
carcass characteristics and blood metabolites of fat-tailed Ghezel lambs
were studied. Twenty four ram lambs (180±30 d) were randomly allotted to
four groups. The lambs were housed in individual cages and had free
access to feed and water. The animals were fed diets containing 0.0
(control), 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 g/d rumen protected L-carnitine.
Dry mater intake (DMI),
average daily gain (ADG),
feed conversion ratio (FCR), and blood cholesterol,
glucose and urea were measured. After 80
d fattening period, the lambs were slaughtered and weight of hot and
cold carcasses, tail fat,
visceral fat, pelvic fat, back fat thickness, kidney,
kidney fat, heart, heart fat, and lungs was
determined for each group. Back fat thickness and the cross
sectional area of the Longissimus dorsi muscle were measured at
12th/13th rib. Meat samples were taken between rib
9 to 13 for determination of meat colour and contents of protein, fat,
moisture and malondialdehyde. The highest level of L-carnitine increased
visceral fat percentage in
carcass (P<0.05). Meat colour was improved (P<0.05) by L-carnitine
feeding. Plasma cholesterol concentration on d 40 of the fattening
period decreased (P<0.05) in animals receiving 1.5 g/d L-carnitine;
however, on d 80, it increased to level recorded on d 0. Other
characteristics were not significantly affected by L-carnitine feeding.
We concluded that L-carnitine at the current levels had no significant
effect on growth; however, meat texture was improved at the rate of 1.0
g/d L-carnitine.
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Keywords:
L-carnitine; finishing lamb; meat quality; carcass characteristics;
blood metabolites |
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To cite this article:
Solhjoo, A, Rowghani E, Bayat A, and Zamiri, MJ,
2014.
The effect of rumen protected L-carnitine on feedlot performance,
carcass characteristics and blood metabolites in Iranian fat-tailed
Ghezal lambs.
Res.
Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 4(4), 192-197. |
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