Effects of dietary calcium propionate on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of two levels of calcium propionate on lamb performance and some carcass characteristics. Twenty-one male Creole lambs with an initial weight of 25.3 ± 3.3 kg were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 0, 10, and 20 g of calcium propionate/kg of diet (dry matter basis). Intake, daily gain, feed conversion, carcass weight, and rib eye area were not affected (P < 0.05) by calcium propionate addition. Ruminal fermentation was not altered (rumen pH, volatile fatty acids concentration, and fermentation pattern), and ruminal ammonia-N presented a quadratic response (P < 0.05). In fat from the longissimus dorsi muscle, oleic acid showed a linear decrease (P < 0.05) and a-linolenic presented a linear increment (P < 0.05). The addition of 10 or 20 g of calcium propionate in diets containing 350 g/kg grain and 100 g/kg molasses did not modify the productive performance of lambs or ruminal fermentation, and minor changes were detected in long-chain fatty acid in intramuscular fat.

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