Carcass and meat quality of second-cross cryptorchid lambs grazed on chicory (Cichorium intybus) or lucerne (Medicago sativa)

Abstract

The meat quality of cross-bred cryptorchid lambs (6 months old) that had been grazed on chicory (Cichorium intybus; n = 20) or lucerne (Medicago sativa; n = 20) for 8 weeks preslaughter was studied. Unfasted preslaughter liveweight (range 42.5-51.5 kg) was not affected (P>0.05) by treatment. There was no difference (P>0.05) between groups for age at slaughter, hot carcass weight, or measures of fatness GR and Fat C (fat depth over longissimus thoracis et lumborum) when adjusted to a common carcass weight of 21.9 kg. Lucerne-fed lambs were, however, significantly (P<0.05) fatter at the 5th rib. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between groups for pH, colour values (where L* indicates relative lightness, a* relative redness, b* relative yellowness), Warner-Bratzler shear values, or cooking loss. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between groups for mean fat colour score or for the distribution of the scores. The b* values for subcutaneous fat tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for lucerne-fed lambs. A comparison of the mean values for aroma and flavour of the longissimus thoracis et lumborum showed no significant (P>0.05) difference between groups and no difference in overall acceptability. Finishing lambs on the chicory cultivar used in this experiment did not adversely affect meat quality and did not result in fatter carcasses than lucerne-fed lambs.