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The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of diet with the inclusion of linseed oil (n-3 fatty acids source) and grape pomace (antioxidant source) on weight gain, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of swine. During 90 days, crossbred swine (n = 44) were fed with four different finishing diets: control diet based on soybean meal and corn (CONT); diet with addition of 3.0% linseed oil (LO); diet with 3.0% linseed oil and 3.5% ensiled grape pomace in dry matter (3.5% EGP); and diet with 3.0% linseed oil and 7.0% ensiled grape pomace in dry matter (7.0% EGP). The finishing diets did not alter daily weight gain although swine fed with LO diet presented thicker backfat when compared to those fed with CONT diet. LO diet significantly increased n-3 fatty acid concentration and reduced n-6 / n-3 ratio when compared to CONT diet. Lipid profile alteration did not significantly affect sensory parameters. The inclusion of EGP (3.5% EGP and 7.0% EGP) increased fibrousness as compared to CONT and LO diets. The inclusion of LO and EGP in finishing diet of swine did not affect weight gain, but generated final product with higher nutritional value (increased polyunsaturated fatty acids / saturated fatty acids (PUFA / SFA) ratio and reduced n-6 / n-3 ratio) as compared to CONT diet. The sensory parameters of the inclusion diets were similar to those found in CONT diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion of legume in grass pastures optimizes protein values of the forage and promotes improved digestibility. Therefore, we hypothesized that finishing steers on a novel combination of legumes and grass pasture would produce carcasses with acceptable traits when compared to carcasses from steers finished in feedlot systems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of finishing steers on three systems including: grazing legume–grass pasture containing oats, ryegrass, white and red clover (PAST), grazing PAST plus supplementation with whole corn grain (14 g/kg BW (SUPP)), and on a feedlot-confined system with concentrate only (28 g/kg BW, consisting of 850 g/kg of whole corn grain and 150 g/kg of protein–mineral–vitamin supplement (GRAIN)) on growth performance of steers, carcass traits and digestive disorders. Eighteen steers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments and finished for 91 days. Data regarding pasture and growth performance were collected during three different periods (0 to 28, 29 to 56 and 57 to 91 days). Subsequently, steers were harvested to evaluate carcass traits, presence of rumenitis, abomasitis and liver abscesses. The legume–grass pasture provided more than 19% dry matter of protein. In addition, pasture of paddocks where steers were assigned to SUPP and PAST treatments showed similar nutritional quality. When compared to PAST, finishing on SUPP increased total weight gain per hectare, stocking rate, daily and total weight gains. The increase of weight gain was high to GRAIN than SUPP and PAST. Steers finished on GRAIN had high hot carcass weight, fat thickness and marbling score when compared to PAST. However, these attributes did not differ between GRAIN and SUPP. Abomasum lesions were more prevalent in steers finished on GRAIN when compared to PAST. Results of this research showed that it is possible to produce carcasses with desirable market weight and fat thickness by finishing steers on legume–grass pasture containing oats, ryegrass, white and red clover. Moreover, supplementing steers with corn when grazing on legume–grass pasture produced similar carcass traits when compared to beef fed corn only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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