Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > AN > AN24286
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 64(17)

Dietary energy level and β2-adrenergic agonist supplementation on growth performance, dietary energy, carcass traits, and visceral mass of hairy lambs

Beatriz I. Castro-Pérez A , Lucía de G. Escobedo-Gallegos A , Daniel Mendoza-Cortez A , Alfredo Estrada-Angulo A , Jesús D. Urías-Estrada A , Jesús A. Quezada-Rubio A , Richard A. Zinn B and Alejandro Plascencia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2151-5372 A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa 80260, Mexico.

B Animal Science Department, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

* Correspondence to: aplas_99@yahoo.com, alejandro.plascencia@uabc.edu.mx

Handling Editor: James Dougherty

Animal Production Science 64, AN24286 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN24286
Submitted: 31 August 2024  Accepted: 29 October 2024  Published: 14 November 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

The beta-agonist zilpaterol (ZH) is a feed additive that improves growth performance via protein accretion during the finishing phase of ruminant fattening. However, evaluating the possible interaction between ZH and nutrients of the diet has received limited attention.

Aims

We investigated the changes in growth performance and carcass traits in response to ZH supplementation of hairy lambs fed finishing diets with different energy concentration.

Methods

Forty-eight Pelibuey × Katahdin crossbred male lambs (43.8 ± 6.3 kg) were used in a 34-day feeding trial to evaluate the interaction between diet energy density [8.37 (LE) and 8.79 (HE) MJ of net energy for maintenance (NEm) per kilogram of diet] and zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation (ZH, dosed at 0 or 6 mg ZH/kg) on growth performance, carcass traits, and visceral mass. All diets contained 14.5% crude protein (CP).

Key results

There was no interaction of energy level and ZH in any of the variables evaluated. HE increased average daily gain (ADG) and gain efficiency (GF) without affecting the observed-to-expected dietary NE. Zilpaterol supplementation increased ADG, GF, and observed-to-expected dietary NE. Both HE and ZH increased carcass weight. HE increased carcass fat, whereas ZH decreased it. HE increased dressing percentage. ZH increased longissimus muscle area, the muscle:fat ratio in the shoulder, and leg whole-cut proportion. Visceral mass was not affected by energy level. ZH decreased visceral fat.

Conclusions

Increasing diet energy from 8.37 to 8.79 MJ NEm/kg enhanced growth performance and carcass traits but did not improve dietary energy utilization. Supplemental ZH enhanced growth performance, dietary-energy utilization and carcass traits of lambs.

Implications

ZH supplementation is a tool to enhance growth performance by improving protein accretion and reducing carcass fat. Response to ZH supplementation is independent of the differences in energy density of finishing diets.

Keywords: beta-agonists, carcass, energetics, feedlot lambs, finishing phase, productivity, visceral mass, zilpaterol.

References

Abouheif M, Al-Sornokh H, Swelum A, Yaqoob H, Al-Owaimer A (2015) Effect of different feed restriction regimens on lamb performance and carcass traits. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 44(3), 76-82.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

AOAC (2000) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 17th edn. (Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Gaithersburg, MD, USA)

Avendaño-Reyes L, Torrentera-Olivera NG, Correa-Calderón A, López-Rincón G, Soto-Navarro SA, Rojo-Rubio R, Guerra-Liera JE, Macías-Cruz U (2018) Daily optimal level of a generic beta-agonist based on zilpaterol hydrochloride for feedlot hair lambs. Small Ruminant Research 165, 48-53.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ben Ettoumia R, Vernet J, Ortigues-Marty I, Kraiem K, Majdoub-Mathlouthi L (2022) Effects of metabolizable energy intake on post weaning lamb growth performance, carcass tissue composition and internal fat depend on animal characteristics: a meta-analysis. Meat Science 185, 108719.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Brand TS, Genis MP, Hoffman LC, van de Vyver WFJ, van der Walt C, Jordaan GF (2013) Effects of dietary energy content and provision of β-adrenergic agonist on the production of feedlot lambs. South African Journal of Animal Science 43(5, Suppl 1), 135-139 Available at https://scielo.org.za/pdf/sajas/v43s1/27.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Brand TS, van der Westhuizen EJ, van der Merwe DA, Hoffman LC (2017) Effect of days in feedlot on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Merino, South African Mutton Merino and Dorper lambs. South African Journal of Animal Science 47(1), 26-33.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Caetano M, Goulart RS, Silva SL, Leme PR, Pflanzer SB, dos Santos ACR, Lanna DPD (2021) Effects of the duration of zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation and days on feed on performance, carcass traits and saleable meat yield of Nellore bulls. Animals 11(8), 2450.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Castro-Pérez BI, Estrada-Angulo A, Urías-Estrada JD, Lazalde-Cruz R, Barreras A, Figueroa-Saavedra F, Zinn RA, Plascencia A (2021) Effects of duration of zilpaterol supplementation on growth-performance, dietary energetics, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of crossbred yearling heifers slaughtered at lighter, less-than-mature final body weight (460 kg). Applied Animal Science 37(5), 543-551.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Cayetano-De-Jesus JA, Rojo-Rubio R, Grajales-Lagunes A, Avendaño-Reyes L, Macías-Cruz U, Gonzalez-del-Prado V, Olmedo-Juárez A, Chay-Canul A, Roque-Jiménez JA, Lee-Rangel HA (2020) Effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride on performance and meat quality in finishing lambs. Agriculture 10(6), 241.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Chikhou FH, Moloney AP, Allen P, Joseph RL, Tarrant PV, Quirke JF, Austin FH, Roche JF (1993) Long-term effects of cimaterol in Friesian steers: II. Carcass composition and meat quality. Journal of Animal Science 71(4), 914-922.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Delmore RJ, Hodgen JM, Johnson BJ (2010) Perspectives on the application of zilpaterol hydrochloride in the United States beef industry. Journal of Animal Science 88(8), 2825-2828.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Ebrahimi R, Ahmadi HR, Zamiri MJ, Rowghani E (2007) Effect of energy and protein levels on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of Mehraban ram lambs. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 10(10), 1679-1684.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Estrada-Angulo A, Barreras-Serrano A, Contreras G, Obregon JF, Robles-Estrada JC, Plascencia A, Zinn RA (2008) Influence of level of zilpaterol chlorhydrate supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs. Small Ruminant Research 80(1–3), 107-110.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Estrada-Angulo A, Castro-Pérez BI, Urías-Estrada JD, Ríos-Rincón FG, Arteaga-Wences YJ, Barreras A, López-Soto MA, Plascencia A, Zinn RA (2018) Influence of protein level on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics of Pelibuey × Katahdin lambs finished with isocaloric diets. Small Ruminant Research 160, 59-64.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Estrada-Angulo A, Verdugo-Insúa M, Escobedo-Gallegos LdG, Castro-Pérez BI, Urías-Estrada JD, Ponce-Barraza E, Mendoza-Cortez D, Ríos-Rincón FG, Monge-Navarro F, Barreras A, Zinn RA, Corona-Gochi L, Plascencia A (2024) Influences of a supplemental blend of essential oils plus 25-hydroxy-vit-d3 and zilpaterol hydrochloride (β2 agonist) on growth performance and carcass measures of feedlot lambs finished under conditions of high ambient temperature. Animals 14(9), 1391.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Galyean ML, Hales KE, Smith ZK (2023) Evaluating differences between formulated dietary net energy values and net energy values determined from growth performance in finishing beef steers. Journal of Animal Science 101, skad230.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hahn GL (1999) Dynamic responses of cattle to thermal heat loads. Journal of Animal Science 77(suppl_2), 10-20.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hatefi A, Towhidi A, Zali A, Zeinoaldini S, Ganjkhanlou M, Plascencia A (2017) Effects of dietary zilpaterol hydrochloride (β2-agonist) supplementation on finishing castrated male goats: metabolic endocrine, blood constituents, plasma volume, respiratory rate and cardiac changes. Journal of Applied Animal Research 45(1), 447-453.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hegarty RS, Neutze SA, Oddy VH (1999) Effects of protein and energy supply on the growth and carcass composition of lambs from differing nutritional histories. The Journal of Agricultural Science 132(3), 361-375.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Lawrence TLJ, Fowler VR (2002) ‘Growth of farm animals.’ (CABI Publishing: New York, NY, USA)

López-Carlos MA, Ramírez RG, Aguilera-Soto JI, Aréchiga CF, Méndez-Llorente F, Rodríguez H, Silva JM (2010) Effect of ractopamine hydrochloride and zilpaterol hydrochloride on growth, diet digestibility, intake and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs. Livestock Science 131(1), 23-30.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

López-Carlos MA, Ramírez RG, Aguilera-Soto JI, Rodríguez H, Aréchiga CF, Méndez-Llorente F, Chavez JJ, Medina CA, Silva JM (2012) Effect of the administration program of 2 β-adrenergic agonists on growth performance and carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot ram lambs. Journal of Animal Science 90(5), 1521-1531.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Luaces ML, Calvo C, Fernández B, Fernández A, Viana JL, Sánchez L (2008) Predicting equations for tisular composition in carcass of Gallega breed lambs. Archivos de Zootecnia 57(217), 3-14 Available at https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/495/49521701.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Macías-Cruz U, Álvarez-Valenzuela FD, Torrentera-Olivera NG, Correa-Calderón A, Robinson PH, Avendaño-Reyes L (2010) Effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of ewe lambs during heat-stress conditions. Animal Production Science 50(10), 983-989.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Macías-Cruz U, Avendaño-Reyes L, Álvarez-Valenzuela FD, Torrentera-Olivera NG, Meza-Herrera C, Mellado-Bosque M, Correa-Calderón A (2013) Growth and carcass characteristics of ewe lambs treated with zilpaterol hydrochloride during spring and summer. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias 4(1), 1-12 Available at https://cienciaspecuarias.inifap.gob.mx/index.php/Pecuarias/article/view/2822/2367.
| Google Scholar |

Macías Cruz U, Avendaño Reyes L, Vicente Pérez R, Alvarez Valenzuela FD, Correa Calderón A, González Ríos H, Soto Navarro SA, Mellado M (2016) Growth and carcass characteristics of lambs finished with zilpaterol hydrochloride in grazing alfalfa. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias 7(2), 234-252 Available at https://www.scielo.org.mx/pdf/rmcp/v7n2/2448-6698-rmcp-7-02-00243-en.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Masoumi R, Afsharirad A-R, Mirzaei-Alamouti H, Vahedi V, Green M, Aliyari D (2021) Does fat-tail docking and Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) supplementation affect feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs? Small Ruminant Research 205, 106548.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

NAMP (1997) ‘The meat buyers guide.’ (North American Meat Processors Association)

NRC (1985) ‘Nutrient requirement of sheep.’ 6th edn. (National Academy of Science Press: Washington, DC, USA)

NRC (2007) ‘Nutrient requirement of small ruminant. Sheep, goats, cervids, and new world camelids.’ (National Academy of Science Press: Washington, DC, USA)

Ortiz Rodea A, Barbosa Amezcua M, Partida de la Peña JA, González Ronquillo M (2016) Effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride on animal performance and carcass characteristics in sheep: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Animal Research 44(1), 104-112.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Piola Junior W, Castro FABd, Bumbieris Junior VH, Ferreira da Silva LdD, Muniz CAdSD, Ribeiro ELdA (2020) Energy contents in the diet on the performance and carcass characteristics of confined lambs. Semina: Agricultural Sciences 41(5), 2307-2316.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Plascencia A, Torrentera NG, Zinn RA (2008) Influence of the β-agonist, zilpaterol, on growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 7(10), 1257-1260 Available at https://docsdrive.com/pdfs/medwelljournals/javaa/2008/1257-1260.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Preziuso G, Russo C, Casarosa L, Campodoni G, Piloni S, Cianci D (1999) Effect of diet energy source on weight gain and carcass characteristics of lambs. Small Ruminant Research 33(1), 9-15.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Priolo A, Micol D, Agabriel J, Prache S, Dransfield E (2002) Effect of grass or concentrate feeding systems on lamb carcass and meat quality. Meat Science 62(2), 179-185.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Ríos Rincón FG, Barreras-Serrano A, Estrada-Angulo A, Obregón JF, Plascencia-Jorquera A, Portillo-Loera JJ, Zinn RA (2010) Effect of level of dietary zilpaterol hydrochloride (β2-agonist) on performance, carcass characteristics and visceral organ mass in hairy lambs fed all-concentrate diets. Journal of Applied Animal Research 38(1), 33-38.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Ríos-Rincón FG, Estrada-Angulo A, Plascencia A, López-Soto MA, Castro-Pérez BI, Portillo-Loera JJ, Robles-Estrada JC, Calderón-Cortes JF, Dávila-Ramos H (2014) Influence of protein and energy level in finishing diets for feedlot hair lambs: growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics. Asian–Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences (AJAS) 27(1), 55-61.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Rivera-Alegría FM, Téllez-Medina DI, Cardador-Martínez A, Cruz-Hernández A, Álvarez-González CA, Piña-Gutiérrez JM, Jiménez-Martínez C (2022) Effect of Zilpaterol and Ractopamine on biometric parameters. Agricultural Ecosystems and Resources 9(1), e3018.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rivera-Villegas A, Estrada-Angulo A, Castro-Pérez BI, Urías-Estrada JD, Ríos-Rincón FG, Rodríguez-Cordero D, Barreras A, Plascencia A, González-Vizcarra VM, Sosa-Gordillo JF, Zinn RA (2019) Comparative evaluation of supplemental zilpaterol hydrochloride sources on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 32(2), 209-216.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Robles-Estrada JC, Barreras-Serrano A, Contreras G, Estrada-Angulo A, Obregon JF, Plascencia A, Rios FG (2009) Effect of two β-adrenergic agonists on finishing performance and carcass characteristics in lambs fed all-concentrate diets. Journal of Applied Animal Research 36(1), 33-36.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Robles JC, Sánchez-Pérez JN, Portillo-Loera JJ, Contreras-Andrade I, Figueroa-Saavedra F, Mejía-Delgadillo MA, Molina-Gámez G, Dávila Ramos H (2024) Effect of supplementing zilpaterol hydrochloride during different periods on energetics, growth performance, carcass traits and fatty acid profile in meat of finishing lambs. Veterinaria Mexico OA 11,.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rocha MHMd, Susin I, Pires AV, Fernández Jr JdS, Mendes CQ (2004) Performance of Santa Inés lambs fed diets of variable crude protein levels. Scientia Agricola 61(2), 141-145.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Rojo-Rubio R, Avendaño-Reyes L, Albarrán B, Vázquez JF, Soto-Navarro SA, Guerra JE, Macías-Cruz U (2018) Zilpaterol hydrochloride improves growth performance and carcass traits without affecting wholesale cut yields of hair sheep finished in feedlot. Journal of Applied Animal Research 46(1), 375-379.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

SAS (2007) ‘SAS/STAT: user’s guide: Statistics. Release 9.3.’ (SAS Institute Inc.: Cart, NC, USA)

Sayed A-BN (2009) Effect of different dietary energy levels on the performance and nutrient digestibility of lambs. Veterinary World 2(11), 418-420 Available at https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.2/November/Effect%20of%20Different%20Dietary%20Energy%20Levels%20on%20the%20Performance.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Schreurs NM, Kenyon PR (2017) Factors affecting sheep carcass characteristics. In ‘Achieving sustainable production of sheep’. (Ed. J Greyling) pp. 3–27. (Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing: Cambridge, UK)

Tedeschi LO (2019) Relationships of retained energy and retained protein that influence the determination of cattle requirements of energy and protein using the California Net Energy System. Translational Animal Science 3(3), 1029-1039.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Urías-Estrada JD, Estrada-Angulo A, Castro-Pérez BI, Ponce-Barraza E, Arteaga-Wences YJ, Ramos-Méndez JL, Barreras A, Valdés-García YS, Plascencia A (2023) Impact of presence of zeolite in diets for lambs supplemented with zilpaterol hydrochloride: growth performance and dietary energetics. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research 83(6), 768-776.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

USDA (1992) ‘Official United States standards for grades of lambs, yearling mutton, and mutton carcasses.’ Secretary of agriculture under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 1087; 7 USC 1621-1627). (USDA: Washington, DC, USA)

Vahedi V, Towhidi A, Hedayat-Evrigh N, Vaseghi-Dodaran H, Khodaei Motlagh M, Ponnampalam EN (2015) The effects of supplementation methods and length of feeding of zilpaterol hydrochloride on meat characteristics of fattening lambs. Small Ruminant Research 131, 107-112.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB, Lewis BA (1991) Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74(10), 3583-3597.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Walter LJ, Cole NA, Jennings JS, Hutcheson JP, Meyer BE, Schmitz AN, Reed DD, Lawrence TE (2016) The effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation on energy metabolism and nitrogen and carbon retention of steers fed at maintenance and fasting intake levels. Journal of Animal Science 94(10), 4401-4414.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Wang Y, Wang Q, Dai C, Li J, Huang P, Li Y, Ding X, Huang J, Hussain T, Yang H (2020) Effects of dietary energy on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemical index, and meat quality of female Hu lambs. Animal Nutrition 6(4), 499-506.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Zhang D, Yuan C, Guo T, Liu J, Lu Z (2023) Effects of different dietary energy levels on development, quality of carcass and meat, and fatty acid profile in male lambs. Animals 13(18), 2870.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Zinn RA, Barreras A, Owens FN, Plascencia A (2008) Performance by feedlot steers and heifers: daily gain, mature body weight, dry matter intake, and dietary energetics. Journal of Animal Science 86(10), 2680-2689.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |