title: The effect of dietary energy and vitamin E administration on performance and intramuscular collagen properties of lambs.
abstract: The effect of different dietary energy levels, with or without injections of vitamin E, on growth, carcass traits and intramuscular collagen (IMC) characteristics of growing lambs was studied. Twenty-four Ile de France ram lambs were evaluated in a 2×2 factorial design involving different DL-α-tocopheryl acetate injections (C, control=0 and V=150IU/wk, i.m. for eight wk) and energy level (N, normal=7.61 and L, low=6.47MJ/kg DM). Growth and slaughter performance, and IMC characteristics were not influenced by diet. DL-α-tocopheryl acetate increased ADG during suckling, while it did not affect live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage. Vitamin E injections reduced carcass shrinkage but also had a negative effect on pelvic limb percentage. The Longissimus muscle pH values were higher in V than in C lambs. DL-α-tocopheryl acetate reduced IMC maturity and muscle hydroxylysylpyridinoline crosslink concentration, more markedly in lambs fed low energy diets.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, Vegetali e dell'Ambiente, Facoltà di Agraria, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Maiorano
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Cavone
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: McCormick
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ciarlariello
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gambacorta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Manchisi