Associations of feed efficiency with circulating IGF-1 and leptin, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs

N L L L Montelli; T I R C Alvarenga; A K Almeida; F A P Alvarenga; I F Furusho-Garcia; P L Greenwood; I G Pereira

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108379

Associations of feed efficiency with circulating IGF-1 and leptin, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs

Meat Sci. 2021 Mar:173:108379. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108379. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Authors

N L L L Montelli¹, T I R C Alvarenga², A K Almeida³, F A P Alvarenga⁴, I F Furusho-Garcia⁵, P L Greenwood⁴, I G Pereira¹

Affiliations

¹ Federal University of Minas Gerais, Veterinary School, Animal Science Department, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
² NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia. Electronic address: tharcilla.alvarenga@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
³ University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
⁴ NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
⁵ Federal University of Lavras, Animal Science Department, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil.

PMID: 33261987
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108379

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feed efficiency classifications on live animal measurements, circulating IGF-1 and leptin concentrations, and carcass, non-carcass and meat quality traits of lambs. One-hundred and two lambs approximately 70 days-old with initial live weight of 24.6 ± 3.71 kg (mean ± SD) were individually fed for 56 days to determine residual feed intake (RFI) and residual feed intake and gain (RIG). Lambs were then classified as phenotypically Low-, Medium- or High-RFI and Low-, Medium- or High-RIG phenotypes. Circulating leptin and IGF-1 concentrations were higher in more efficient lambs (Low-RFI or High-RIG). Variation in RFI and RIG did not affect meat redness or tenderness, but High-RIG lambs had darker meat. These findings show that the phenotypically more efficient Low-RFI and High-RIG lambs produced carcasses with similar characteristics and meat quality as the less efficient High-RFI and Low-RIG lambs but have a strategic advantage of lower feed intake to achieve similar production outcomes.

Keywords: Eye muscle area; Fatness; Organs; Residual feed intake; Residual feed intake and gain; Sheep.

MeSH terms

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Eating
Food Quality
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis*
Leptin / blood*
Male
Red Meat / analysis*
Sheep, Domestic / growth & development*
Sheep, Domestic / physiology
Weight Gain

Substances

Leptin
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I