The quality and mineral composition of the longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus muscles from lambs fed perennial or annual wheat forage with or without lucerne

Benjamin W B Holman; Richard C Hayes; Matthew T Newell; Gordon Refshauge; Shawn R McGrath; Stephanie M Fowler; Alexandra R Shanley; David L Hopkins

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108564

The quality and mineral composition of the longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus muscles from lambs fed perennial or annual wheat forage with or without lucerne

Meat Sci. 2021 Oct:180:108564. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108564. Epub 2021 May 24.

Authors

Benjamin W B Holman¹, Richard C Hayes², Matthew T Newell³, Gordon Refshauge⁴, Shawn R McGrath⁵, Stephanie M Fowler⁶, Alexandra R Shanley⁵, David L Hopkins⁶

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Red Meat and Sheep Development, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cowra, New South Wales 2794, Australia. Electronic address: benjamin.holman@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
² Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 2678, Australia.
³ Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cowra, New South Wales 2794, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Red Meat and Sheep Development, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cowra, New South Wales 2794, Australia; Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cowra, New South Wales 2794, Australia.
⁵ School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 2650, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Red Meat and Sheep Development, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Cowra, New South Wales 2794, Australia.

PMID: 34058478
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108564

Abstract

This study compared the effect of a novel perennial wheat forage and a conventional annual wheat forage, fed to lambs with or without lucerne, on the quality and mineral profile of the longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus muscles. This involved 48 Poll Dorset × Merino ewe lambs, 12 per treatment, managed for 28 days within individual pens. Consumer sensory panel scores showed 'good eating quality' for all samples irrespective of diet, a conclusion supported by the shear force, cooking loss, particle size, and intramuscular fat results. Drip loss was affected by a significant interaction between diet and muscle. The ultimate pH of meat from lambs fed annual wheat was highest. Comparable colour stability and purge results suggested that diet did not impact on lamb retail-potential. Sodium, sulphur and zinc concentrations were higher in the meat from lambs fed annual wheat, compared to perennial wheat. Overall, these outcomes support the use of perennial wheat as a forage for lamb production.

Keywords: Alfalfa; Forage; Grazing cereals; Loin; Mineral content; Perennial and annual; Sensory quality attributes; Sheep meat; Topside.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Animal Feed / analysis
Animals
Consumer Behavior
Cooking
Diet / veterinary*
Female
Humans
Male
Medicago sativa
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry*
Red Meat / analysis*
Shear Strength
Sheep, Domestic
Triticum