Taints in meat from sheep grazing Parthenium hysterophorus

Abstract

The occurrence of taints in meat of lambs consuming parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) weed was investigated in two experiments. In the first experiment, lambs were fed rations containing either air-dried parthenium weed or no parthenium weed or a combination of both for four weeks before slaughter. In the second experiment, lambs grazed a pasture infested with parthenium, or a grass pasture for 12 weeks, while others grazed the infested pasture and then grass for 7, 14 or 21 d, immediately before slaughter. A laboratory taste panel and a domestic panel assessed the aroma and flavour of the meat from all treatments. Although the laboratory taste panel could differentiate between meat from parthenium weed and grass treatments the differences in aroma and flavour between treatments were small. Removal of the sheep from the infested pasture for at least 14 d before slaughter, lowered the level of taint in the meat. Germination tests on faeces, and rumen and reticulum contents of sheep fed parthenium weed failed to show any viable parthenium seeds, but it is possible that seed could be spread through the wool or feet.