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Effect of maternal undernutrition on ruminant carcass and meat quality

Zoe, Daniel; Brameld, John; Scollan, Nigel; Buttery, Peter

Authors

Daniel Zoe

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JOHN BRAMELD JOHN.BRAMELD@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry

Nigel Scollan

Peter Buttery



Abstract

We have previously shown that, in sheep, the majority of muscle differentiation and fibre formation takes place around d85 of gestation, with myoblast proliferation occurring before this time (FAHEY et al., 2005a). In a second study (FAHEY et al., 2005b), maternal nutrient restriction during the proliferation stage immediately before the period of major fibre formation (d30 to 70 gestation) resulted in a reduction in the numbers of fast fibres in 14 d lambs. Maternal undernutrition during (d55 to 95) and after (d85 to 115) major fibre formation did not alter the muscle fibre characteristics of 14 d lambs (FAHEY et al., 2005b). Two sheep trials investigated whether such changes in muscle fibre characteristics persist into adulthood and what the consequences may be in terms of growth rates and carcass composition. Treatment groups were fed as for controls except that their nutrient supply was reduced to 50% of the recommended allowance from d 30 to 70 (Exp. 1) or d 30 to 85 (Exp. 2) of gestation, after which they were returned to the same level of nutrition as the control group. After weaning, twin lambs were individually housed and fed ad libitum to 24 or 17 wk of age for Exp 1 and 2 respectively. We specifically hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction would result in a reduction in the numbers of muscle fibres in the resulting lambs and therefore lead to reduced lean growth but increased adiposity. There was, however, little or no effect of pre-natal dietary restriction during the time of muscle differentiation on the subsequent carcass quality of the adult lambs, suggesting an adaptation to the changes in muscle fibre composition seen previously at 2 wk. Allowing the lambs to grow to 24 wk (maternal restriction d30 to 70) showed some evidence of a small increase in the fat:lean ratio in the carcass of lambs subjected to maternal undernutrition, which had not been apparent when the animals were slaughtered at 17 wk (maternal restriction d30 to 85). Dietary restriction did not have significant effects upon the fibre type composition of the muscles. Presumably the animals had compensated during their growth. The question remains that had they received poor nutrition post-natally would they still have been able to compensate and would the failure to compensate influence the carcass composition?

Citation

Zoe, D., Brameld, J., Scollan, N., & Buttery, P. (2007). Effect of maternal undernutrition on ruminant carcass and meat quality. Archives Animal Breeding, 50(SPEC. ISS.), 22-23

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Aug 2, 2007
Deposit Date Feb 9, 2021
Journal Archiv fur Tierzucht
Print ISSN 0003-9438
Publisher Copernicus Publications
Peer Reviewed Not Peer Reviewed
Volume 50
Issue SPEC. ISS.
Pages 22-23
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3185877