Carcass traits of Morada Nova lambs fed different levels of melon fruit-refuse in substitution of ground corn in the diet

This experiment evaluated carcass traits and yields of comercial cuts and tissue evaluation of 20 Morada Nova lambs fed diets with fruit-refuse of melon replacing 0, 30, 60 or 100% of ground corn. The animals with 15 kg of initial body weight and at 6 six months of age were kept confined in individual pens and slaughtered with 26 kg of weight. It was used a completely randomized experimental design, with four treatments (levels of ground corn replaced by melon fruit-refuse) and five replicates. It was not observed any significant differences for empty body weight, hot and cold carcass weight, yields of hot and cold carcass, and biological yield. Neither it was noted significant effect of inclusion of melon fruit-refuse in the diets on yields of commercial cuts (neck, rib, palette, loin and leg) and concentrations of muscle, bone and fat. Substitution of ground corn by melon fruit-refuse in diets does not harm quantitative traits of carcass of Morada Nova lambs and it is a good alternative for finishing meat sheep feeding.