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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effect of hypothyroidism on growth performance, carcass composition and meat quality of fat-tailed Lori-Bakhtiari lambs

Yousef Baghcheghi A B C , Ahmad Zare Shahneh A B , Mahdi Ganjkhanlou A B , Mahdi Khodaei Motlagh D and Ali Reza Yousefi A B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

B Centre of Excellence for Improvement of Sheep Carcass Quality and Quantity, PO Box 31587-77871, Iran.

C Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran.

D Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, Iran.

E Corresponding author. Email: rezayousefi@ut.ac.ir

Animal Production Science 55(10) 1324-1331 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14516
Submitted: 29 October 2013  Accepted: 8 August 2014   Published: 2 December 2014

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of induction hypothyroidism by propylthiouracil (PTU) on the growth performance and meat quality of fat-tailed Lori-Bakhtiari lambs. Eighteen Lori-Bakhtiari male lambs were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 6) and received daily treatments (gavage) consisting of 0 (Control: C), 10 (Low: L) or 20 (High: H) mg PTU/kg bodyweight/day for 60 days. PTU decreased plasma triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentration in both L and H (P < 0.0001). Lambs treated with PTU (L and H) had lower feed intake (P < 0.004), feed conversion efficiency (P < 0.003), and greater intramuscular fat than C lambs (P < 0.035). Meat from the L and H lambs had lower cooking loss and shear force, and also higher L* (lightness) than C lambs (P < 0.004, P < 0.015 and P < 0.025, respectively). The meat of H and L lambs was more tender than C lambs (P < 0.032). However, the meat of H lambs required fewer chews before swallowing than C lambs (P < 0.041). Generally, induction of mild hypothyroidism appeared to improve feed conversion efficiency and meat quality of lambs.


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