The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of feeding diets containing citrus pulp on carcass characteristics and meat quality of feedlot lambs. Thirty-two Santa Ines lambs were distributed in a complete randomized block design according to body weight and age at the beginning of the performance trial. Lambs were fed diets containing 90% concentrate (corn and/or citrus pulp, soybean meal and minerals) and 10% coastcross hay (Cynodon spp). Citrus pulp was added at levels 23.7, 46.1 and 68.4% in the DM, replacing corn by 33, 67 or 100%. When lambs reached 33 kg of BW, they were slaughtered to determine dressing percentage, cold carcass yield, chilling loss, backfat thickness, loin eye area, cut yields and proportion of muscle, fat and bone. In addition, water holding capacity, color, cooking loss and pH were determined. Carcass characteristics were not altered by feeding citrus pulp to the lambs. However, the total replacement of corn by citrus pulp decreased carcass fat content by 12.4%.
by-products; pectin; Santa Ines; sheep
