THE EFFECT OF DIET ON GROWTH PERFORMANCES, CARCASS AND MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF LAMBS FROM TSIGAI BREED

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of diet on growth performances, carcass and meat quality of Tsigai lambs - rusty variety fed with different diets, in order to improve meat quality and meat sensory characteristics of lambs; forty male lambs (L1 and L2, n = 20 heads/ group) were used in experiment from birth up to 5 months. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the two lots with regard at final weight and average daily gain. The diet had a significant effect between L1 and L2 groups in terms of hot carcass weight and hot slaughter yield (p < 0.001), cold carcass weight and cold slaughter yield (p < 0.01), as well for commercial yield (p < 0.05). The juiciness and overall difference were strongly influenced by the diet administered in the present study, significant differences (p <0.001) being recorded between meat from the two groups. The diet administered to L1 influenced positively the eating qualities of lamb meat, resulting in a more juicy and tender meat, in which the specific lamb taste was attenuated.