Effect of enriched housing on welfare, production performance and meat quality in finishing lambs : the use of feeder ramps
Effect of enriched housing on welfare, production performance and meat quality in finishing lambs : the use of feeder ramps
Date
2014
Authors
Genaro Miranda-de la Lama, 0000-0002-6848-1010
Lorena Aguayo Ulloa, 0000-0002-3825-9515
Morris Villarroel, 0000-0003-2542-3985
Maria Pascual Alonso, 0000-0001-7012-2095
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Unidad Lerma
Abstract
Description
This study analyses the effect of environmental enrichment on the welfare, productive traits and meat quality of lambs housed in feedlots. Sixty lambs were placed in enriched (EE) or conventional (CO) pens (3 pens for each treatment, 10 lambs/pen) where EE had a wooden platform with ramps that provided access to a concentrate hopper, cereal straw as bedding and forage, and one play ramp. The CO pen was barren, similar to commercial feedlots. The physiological adaptation response of EE lambs was more efficient than CO, since the latter mobilised more body reserves (i.e., increased NEFA, P < 0.05), and had lower levels of immunity (i.e., increased N/L, P < 0.05), which indicate chronic stress, probably associated with the barren environment. The EE lambs had a higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain, with heavier carcasses and higher fattening scores, as well as lower pHult, higher L and b values, and lower values of texture (P < 0.05).
Keywords
CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA