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Nowadays, deficits in red meat resources in Turkey are caused by the import of red meat from different countries. Anatolian buffaloes used in this research are a species that can contribute to red meat production in Turkey. This study was performed to determine the slaughter and carcass traits of Anatolian buffaloes at different slaughter weights. Twenty weaned male Anatolian buffalo calves of about 5 months old, at an average live weight of 100 kg, were used as the animal specimen in the present study. The calves were fed with 30:70 roughage (alfalfa hay - 18.07% crude protein, 2186.90 kcal kg(-1) metabolic energy DM): concentrate feed (cattle fattening feed - 16.40% crude protein, 2696.94 kcal kg(-1) metabolic energy DM). The calves were randomly distributed into 4 different slaughter weight (SW) groups of GI (200 kg; n = 5), GII (250 kg; n = 5), GIII (300 kg; n = 5), and GIV (350 kg; n = 5). The results showed that hot and cold carcass ratios (P < 0.01) and carcass chilling loss increased with increasing slaughter weights. Except for head, feet, and kidney weight, the differences in all of the other organ weights of the SW groups were not statistically significant. The differences in all of the investigated carcass measurements of the SW groups were detected to be significant (P < 0.05). Although total carcass conformation index values increased with increasing slaughter weights, only the differences in the carcass compactness values of the SW groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Except for chunk, short loin, sirloin, rump, and flank ratios, the differences in all of the other carcass section ratios of the SW groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

This research was performed to examine the effects of different slaughter weights (SWs) on some meat quality traits of Anatolian Buffaloes (n=20). Weaned 5-month-old Anatolian Buffalo calves with an average live weight of 100 kg were used as the animal material of the study. Experimental calves were randomly divided into four different slaughter weight groups 200 kg (SW-1: n=5), 250 kg (SW-2: n=5), 300 kg (SW-3: n=5), and 350 kg (SW-4: n=5). Anatolian buffalo calves were fed with 30:70 roughage/concentrate feed ration. Meat quality attributes of musculus longissimus dorsi thoracis (LT) muscle of calves slaughtered at target slaughter weight were investigated. The quality traits included 45th minute pH (pH(45min)), 24th hour pH (pH(24h)), 1st and 24th hour color parameters (L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness), water holding capacity (WHC), drip loss (3rd day (DL-3) and 7th day (DL-7)), freeze-thaw loss (FTL), cooking loss (CL), chemical composition), fatty acid, and cholesterol profiles. The differences in LT muscle pH(24h), 24th hour a* and b* color parameters and WHC values of SW groups were not found to be significant (P>0.05). The lowest DL-3 was observed in SW-1 (6.89%) and the greatest in SW-2 (8.96%) groups. Ether extract (EE) ratios increased (P0.05) with increasing SWs. The differences in total cholesterol contents of SW groups were not detected to be significant (P>0.05). Among the SW groups of Anatolian Buffaloes, SW-1 was found to be prominent with high WHC, CP, and PUFA/SFA ratio and the least DL-3 ratio.

WOS: 000373112900004, Maternal nutrient intake during early- and mid-gestation can alter fetal growth and development with long-term consequences on the postnatal productivity and health of offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal nutrition level during mid-gestation on postnatal growth rate, carcass composition, muscle fibre characteristics and meat quality in lambs. Ewes were fed from Days 30 to 80 of gestation as follows: 100% (control group, C), 50% (undernutrition, UN) or 175% (overnutrition, ON) of their daily requirement. During the rest of the gestation, the ewes in all groups were fed 100% of their daily requirements. Birth and weaning (at Day 90) weights of lambs born to ewes in nutritional groups were similar, but slaughter weights (at Day 150) and daily weight gain during finishing period of lambs born to the UN group were lower (P < 0.05). Similarly, a decrease in weights of semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus and gastrocnemius muscles was observed in the lambs born to the UN group (P < 0.05). Lambs born to the ON group had a higher (P < 0.05) concentration of DNA in longissimus dorsi (LD) and ST muscles than UN groups, but they had a lower (P < 0.05) total protein and other proteins concentrations in LD and ST muscles than those to C and UN groups. Protein to DNA ratio in LD and ST muscles of lambs born to ON group were lower than those to C and UN groups (P < 0.05). However, lambs born to the ON group had a higher number of Type IIA and IIB muscle fibres in ST muscles but not in LD muscles than those in the C and UN groups (P < 0.05). Additionally an increase in the number of fibres/mm(2) muscle area in lambs born to the ON group was observed in LD and ST muscles (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between treatment groups in terms of meat quality parameters studied. This study confirms that maternal nutrition level during mid-gestation alters the postnatal growth and muscle fibre development of lambs., TUBITAK [TBAG-U/148], The authors are grateful to Dr H. Onder for his guidance and advice in statistical analysis of the data. The authors also acknowledge the financial support by TUBITAK (TBAG-U/148) to carry out this study.