Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nutritional strategies, performance, digestibility, and carcass traits of Santa Ines and Rabo Largo breeds in a tropical climate

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the performance, intake, digestibility, ruminal parameters, carcass traits, and the yield of commercial cuts of Santa Ines (SI) and Rabo Largo (RL) breeds fed diets with high or low roughage-to-concentrate ratio (R:C) under a tropical climate. Twenty lambs from each breed were individually housed in covered pens and fed the experimental diets for 58 days. The diets were formulated to meet the growth requirements of lambs with a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 70:30 and 30:70. Significant interactions of breed × diet for nutrient intake were observed (P < 0.05), with SI lambs fed low R:C diet showing higher intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and total carbohydrates compared to RL lambs fed the same diet. SI lambs fed high R:C diet had higher intake of neutral detergent fiber than RL lambs (P < 0.05). SI lambs displayed better average daily gain and feed efficiency, regardless of diet (P < 0.05). Carcass traits and gastrointestinal components were influenced by breed and diet (P < 0.05). SI lambs fed low R:C diet showed higher subcutaneous fat thickness and better carcass finishing compared to RL lambs (P < 0.05). SI breed lambs exhibited better growth performance, carcass traits, and gastrointestinal characteristics, even when fed diets with a high roughage-to-concentrate ratio.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

References

  • Alvares, C.A., Stape, J.L., Sentelhas, P.C., de Moraes, G., Leonardo, J. and Sparovek, G., 2013. Köppen’s climate classification map for Brazil Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 22, 711–728 (E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung)

  • Alves, S.P., Bessa, R.J.B., Quaresma, M.A.G., Kilminster, T., Scanlon, T., Oldham, C., Milton, J., Greeff, J. and Almeida, A.M., 2013. Does the fat tailed Damara ovine breed have a distinct lipid metabolism leading to a high concentration of branched chain fatty acids in tissues? PLoS One, 8, e77313 (Public Library of Science San Francisco, USA)

  • AOAC, 2016. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, 20th ed. W. George and Jr. Latimer (eds), (AOAC Int. Gaithersburg, MD)

  • Ayele, S., Urge, M., Animut, G. and Yusuf, M., 2019. Comparative slaughter performance and carcass quality of three Ethiopian fat-tailed hair sheep breeds supplemented with two levels of concentrate Tropical animal health and production, 51, 187–198 (Springer)

  • Berihulay, H., Abied, A., He, X., Jiang, L. and Ma, Y., 2019. Adaptation mechanisms of small ruminants to environmental heat stress (MDPI Agriculture)

  • Brown, A.J. and Williams, D.R., 1979. Sheep carcass evaluation: measurement of composition using a standardized butchery method, (Taylor & Francis: Langford)

  • Chaney, A.L. and Marbach, E.P., 1962. Modified reagents for determination of urea and ammonia Clinical chemistry, 8, 130–132

  • Clauss, M., Stewart, M., Price, E., Peilon, A., Savage, T., Van Ekris, I. and Munn, A., 2016. The effect of feed intake on digesta passage, digestive organ fill and mass, and digesta dry matter content in sheep (Ovis aries): Flexibility in digestion but not in water reabsorption Small Ruminant Research, 138, 12–19 (Elsevier)

  • Costa, R.G., Almeida, M.D.A., Cruz, G.R.B., Beltrão Filho, E.M., Ribeiro, N.L., Madruga, M.S. and Queiroga, R. de C.R.E., 2017. The fatty acid profile of fat depots from Santa Inês sheep fed spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus‐indica Mill.) Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97, 4438–4444 (Wiley Online Library)

  • Dehority, B.A., 1998. Generation times of Epidinium caudatum and Entodinium caudatum, determined in vitro by transferring at various time intervals Journal of animal science, 76, 1189–1196 (Oxford University Press)

  • Dixon, R.M. and Stockdale, C.R., 1999. Associative effects between forages and grains: consequences for feed utilisation Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 50, 757–774 (CSIRO Publishing)

  • Ferreira, J., Serafim, M.V., Diógenes, G.V., Silveira, R.M.F., Antas, S.U. and Costa, M.G., 2021. Simultaneity between nutrition and thermoregulatory responses in ruminants Biological Rhythm Research, 52, 1372–1382 (Taylor & Francis)

  • Figueiredo, G.C., de Rezende, M.P.G., de Figueiredo, M.P., Bozzi, R., Oliveira Souza, A.A., Souza Carneiro, P.L. and Mendes Malhado, C.H., 2019. Morphofunctional characteristics of Dorper sheep crossed with Brazilian native breeds Small Ruminant Research, 170, 143–148 (Elsevier)

  • Filípek, J. and Dvořák, R., 2009. Determination of the volatile fatty acid content in the rumen liquid: comparison of gas chromatography and capillary isotachophoresis Acta Veterinaria Brno, 78, 627–633 (University of Veterinary Sciences Brno)

  • Hall, M.B., 2003. Challenges with nonfiber carbohydrate methods Journal of animal science, 81, 3226–3232 (Oxford University Press)

  • Hausman, G.J., Basu, U., Wei, S., Hausman, D.B. and Dodson, M. V., 2014. Preadipocyte and adipose tissue differentiation in meat animals: Influence of species and anatomical location Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 2, 323–351 (Annual Reviews Inc.)

  • Huntington, G.B., Harmon, D.L. and Richards, C.J., 2006. Sites, rates, and limits of starch digestion and glucose metabolism in growing cattle Journal of animal science, 84, E14–E24 (Oxford University Press)

  • IGBE, 2021. Produção da Pecuária Municipal (In English: Municipality Livestock Production), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

  • INMET. 2020. Data of Automatic Stations: Brazilian National Meteorology Institute. Brasília, Brazil. [Online]. Available at: www.bdmep.inmet.gov.br. (Accessed 19/06/2021).

  • Joy, A., Dunshea, F.R., Leury, B.J., Clarke, I.J., Digiacomo, K. and Chauhan, S.S., 2020. Resilience of small ruminants to climate change and increased environmental temperature: A review (MDPI Agriculture)

  • Jung, H.J.G., 2012. Forage Digestibility: The Intersection of Cell Wall Lignification and Plant Tissue Anatomy Florida Ruminant Nutrition Symposium, 162–174

  • Khaldari, M., Azarfar, A. and Pahlavan, R., 2020. The size of fat tail does not have an effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics in Lori-Bakhtiari lambs Small Ruminant Research, 187, 106088 (Elsevier)

  • Landim, A.V., Roriz, N.D., Silveira, R.M.F., Vega, W.H.O., Costa, H.H.A., de Sousa, L.C.O., Alves, G.C., Ferreira, J. and Mourão, G.B., 2021. Sheep meat production in the Brazilian semi-arid region: crossing between indigenous breeds Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53 (Springer Science and Business Media B.V.)

  • Lins, J.G.G., Rodrigues, S.D., Albuquerque, A.C.A. and Marques, A.V.M. de S., 2021. Role of integrated crop-livestock system on amelioration of heat stress on crossbred Brazilian sheep in semiarid region of northeastern Brazil Small Ruminant Research, 204 (Elsevier)

  • Lohse, C.L., Moss, F.P. and Butterfield, R.M., 1971. Growth patterns of muscles of Merino sheep from birth to 517 days Animal Science, 13, 117–126 (Cambridge University Press)

  • Loya-Olguin, J.L., Vega-Granados, E., Gómez-Gurrola, A., Navarrete-Méndez, R., Calvo-Carrillo, C., García-Galicia, I.A., Valdés-García, Y.S. and Sanginés-García, L., 2020. Rumen fermentation and diet degradability in sheep fed sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) silage supplemented with Tithonia diversifolia or alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and rice polishing Austral Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 52, 55–61

  • Maia, M. O., Susin, I., Ferreira, E.M., Nolli, C.P., Gentil, R.S., Pires, A.V. and Mourão, G.B., 2012. Intake, nutrient apparent digestibility and ruminal constituents of sheep fed diets with canola, sunflower or castor oils Brazilian Journal of Animal Science, 41, 2350–2356

  • Marinho, G.T.B., Pandorfi, H., Silva, M.V., Montenegro, A.A.A., Sousa, L.B., Desenzi, R., Silva, J.L.B., Oliveira-Júnior, J.F., Mesquita, M., Almeida, G.L.P., Guiselini, C., Rosa Ferraz Jardim, A.M. and Silva, T.G.F., 2023. Bioclimatic Zoning for Sheep Farming through Geostatistical Modeling in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil Animals, 13 (MDPI)

  • McCutcheon, S.N., Blair, H.T. and Purchas, R.W., 1993. Body composition and organ weights in fleece weight-selected and control Romney rams New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 36, 445–449 (Taylor & Francis)

  • Mcmanus, C., Paiva, S.R. and Olegário De Araújo, R., 2010. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia Genetics and breeding of sheep in Brazil

  • McManus, C., Paiva, S.R., Caetano, A.R., Hermuche, P., Guimarães, R.F., Carvalho, O.A., Braga, R., Souza Carneiro, P.L., Ferrugem-Moraes, J., Souza, C.J.H., Faco, O., Santos, S.A., Azevedo, H.C., Araujo, A.M., Façanha, D.A.E. and Ianella, P., 2020a. Landscape genetics of sheep in Brazil using SNP markers Small Ruminant Research, 192 (Elsevier)

  • McManus, C.M., Faria, D.A., Lucci, C.M., Louvandini, H., Pereira, S.A. and Paiva, S.R., 2020b. Heat stress effects on sheep: Are hair sheep more heat resistant? Theriogenology, 155, 157-167 (Elsevier)

  • Meenongyai, W., Pattarajinda, V., Stelzleni, A.M., Sethakul, J. and Duangjinda, M., 2017. Effects of forage ensiling and ration fermentation on total mixed ration pH, ruminal fermentation and performance of growing Holstein-Zebu cross steers Animal Science Journal, 88, 1372–1379

  • Mehrez, A.Z., Ørskov, E.R. and McDonald, I., 1977. Rates of rumen fermentation in relation to ammonia concentration British Journal of Nutrition, 38, 437–443 (Cambridge University Press)

  • Mendes, M.S., Souza, J.G., Herbster, C.J.L., Brito Neto, A.S., Silva, L.P., Rodrigues, J.P.P., Marcondes, M.I., Oliveira, R.L., Bezerra, L.R. and Pereira, E.S., 2021. Maintenance and Growth Requirements in Male Dorper × Santa Ines Lambs Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8 (Frontiers Media)

  • Mertens, D.R., 2002. Gravimetric determination of amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber in feeds with refluxing in beakers or crucibles: collaborative study Journal of AOAC international, 85, 1217–1240 (AOAC International)

  • Milliken, G.A. and Johnson, D.E., 2004. Analysis of messy data, volume I: designed experiments, 2nd ed. (Chapman and Hall/CRC)

  • Muhammad, A.U.R., Xia, C.Q. and Cao, B.H., 2016. Dietary forage concentration and particle size affect sorting, feeding behaviour, intake and growth of Chinese Holstein male calves Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 100, 217–223 (Wiley Online Library)

  • Nascimento, M.L., Souza, A.R.D.L., Chaves, A.S., Cesar, A.S.M., Tullio, R.R., Medeiros, S.R., Mourão, G.B., Rosa, A.N., Feijó, G.L.D., Alencar, M.M. and Lanna, D.P.D., 2016. Feed efficiency indexes and their relationships with carcass, non-carcass and meat quality traits in Nellore steers Meat Science, 116, 78–85 (Elsevier)

  • Neto, A.J., Messana, J.D., Granja-Salcedo, Y.T., Castagnino, P.S., Fiorentini, G., Reis, R.A. and Berchielli, T.T., 2017. Effect of starch level in supplement with or without oil source on diet and apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial population of Nellore steers grazing tropical grass Livestock science, 202, 171–179 (Elsevier)

  • NRC, 2007. Nutrient requirements of small ruminants: sheep, goats, cervids, and new world camelids, National Research Council (ed), (National Academy Press)

  • Oliveira, C.R.N., Santos, S.A., Mariz, L.D.S., Carvalho, G.G.P., Azevêdo, J.A.G., Tosto, M.S.L. and Santos, A.C.S., 2020. Dietary phase-feeding as feedlot strategy for Santa Ines lambs: Performance, N retention and meat quality Livestock Science, 239, 104106 (Elsevier)

  • Owens, F.N., Dubeski, P. and Hanson, C.F., 1993. Factors that alter the growth and development of ruminants Journal of animal science, 71, 3138–3150 (Oxford University Press)

  • Pantoja, M.H. de A., Esteves, S.N., Jacinto, M.A.C., Pezzopane, J.R.M., Paz, C.C.P. de, Silva, J.A.R. da, Lourenço Junior, J. de B., Brandão, F.Z., Moura, A.B.B., Romanello, N., Botta, D. and Garcia, A.R., 2017. Thermoregulation of male sheep of indigenous or exotic breeds in a tropical environment Journal of Thermal Biology, 69, 302–310 (Elsevier)

  • Parente, H.N., Parente, M.O.M., Gomes, R.M.S., Sodré, W.J.S., Moreira Filho, M.A., Rodrigues, R.C., Santos, V.L.F. and Araújo, J.S., 2016. Increasing levels of concentrate digestibility, performance and ingestive behavior in lambs. Brazilian Journal of Animal Health and Production, 17, 186–194 (Universidade Federal da Bahia)

  • Parente, M.O.M., Rocha, K.S., Bessa, R.J.B., Parente, H.N., Zanine, A.M., Machado, N.A.F., Júnior, J. de B.L., Bezerra, L.R., Landim, A.V. and Alves, S.P., 2020. Effects of the dietary inclusion of babassu oil or buriti oil on lamb performance, meat quality and fatty acid composition Meat science, 160, 107971 (Elsevier)

  • Passos, M., Zambrzycki, G.C. and Pereira, R.S., 2016. Water balance and climate classification for a particular Chapadinha-MA region Revista Brasileira de Agricultura Irrigada, 10, 758 (Instituto de Pesquisa e Inovação na Agricultura Irrigada-INOVAGRI)

  • Pereira, A.L., Parente, M.O.M., Zanine, A.M., Ferreira, D.J., Sousa, M.N., Nascimento, T.V.C., Moreira Filho, M.A., Machado, N.A.F., Lima, A.G.V.O., Lima, H.C. and Parente, H.N., 2022. Physiological responses, water consumption, and feeding behaviour of lamb breeds fed diets containing different proportions of concentrate Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, 10 (Malque Publishing)

  • Rezende, M.P.G., Figueiredo, G.C., Araujo, J.I.M., Campos, B.M., Moretti, R., Bozzi, R., Malhado, C.H.M., Souza, A.A.O. and Carneiro, P.L.S., 2020. Growth curve, carcass traits and Kleiber ratio of Dorper crossbreed with hairless native Brazilian sheep breeds Small Ruminant Research, 192 (Elsevier)

  • Saldanha, R.B., Cirne, L.G.A., Brant, L.M.S., Rodrigues, C.S., Pina, D.S., Matos, S.C., Grimaldi, A.B., Bento, S.C., Tosto, M.S.L., Santos, S.A., Alba, H.D.R. and de Carvalho, G.G.P., 2022. Productive characteristics of feedlot Santa Inês and Dorper lambs: intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality Tropical Animal Health and Production, 54 (Springer Science and Business Media)

  • Santos, N.M., Costa, R.G., Madruga, M.S., Medeiros, A.N., Albuquerque, C.L.C. and Queiroga, R.C.R.E., 2008. Constitution and composition chemistry of the precooked goatlike buchada produced in the state of Paraíba, Brazil Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 51, 593–598 (SciELO Brasil)

  • Santos, M.L.P., Dada, J.M.V., Muniz, P.C., Nunes-Zotti, M.L.A., Barros, F.R.O. and Vieira, F.M.C., 2021. Physiological responses of Santa Inês x Dorper ewes and lambs to thermal environment of silvopasture and open pasture systems Small Ruminant Research, 205 (Elsevier)

  • Satter, L.D. and Slyter, L.L., 1974. Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro British journal of nutrition, 32, 199–208 (Cambridge University Press)

  • Silva, J.F.C. and Leão, M.I., 1979. Fundamentos de nutrição dos ruminantes, (Livroceres: Piracicaba)

  • Silva Sobrinho, A.G., Purchas, R.W., Kadim, I.T. and Yamamoto, S.M., 2005. Características de qualidade da carne de ovinos de diferentes genótipos e idades ao abate (In English: Meat quality traits from sheep of diferente genotypes and ages at slaughter). Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 34, 1070–1078

  • Sniffen, C.J., O’Connor, J.D., Van Soest, P.J., Fox, D.G. and Russell, J.B., 1992. A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: II. Carbohydrate and protein availability Journal of animal science, 70, 3562–3577 (Oxford University Press)

  • Teixeira, A.B.M., Schuh, B.R.F., Daley, V.L., Pinto, P.H.N., Fernandes, S.R. and de Freitas, J.A., 2021. Performance, biochemical and physiological parameters of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs fed with three levels of metabolizable energy Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53 (Springer)

  • Tripathi, M.K., Chaturvedi, O.H., Karim, S.A., Singh, V.K. and Sisodiya, S.L., 2007. Effect of different levels of concentrate allowances on rumen fluid pH, nutrient digestion, nitrogen retention and growth performance of weaner lambs Small Ruminant Research, 72, 178–186

  • Weiss, W.P., Conrad, H.R. and Pierre, N.R.S., 1992. A theoretically-based model for predicting total digestible nutrient values of forages and concentrates Animal Feed Science and Technology, 39, 95–110 (Elsevier)

Download references

Funding

This research was supported by the Foundation for Research Support of the Maranhão State – Brazil (FAPEMA; Grant Number 00917/17); and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – Brazil (CAPES; Finance Code 001).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of the Maranhão State (UFMA), Chapadinha, MA, Brazil

    Anderson Lopes Pereira, Edegleicia Alves de Sousa, Anderson de Moura Zanine, Daniele de Jesus Ferreira, Francisca Cláudia da Silva de Sousa, Hyanne Costa Lima, Hactus Souto Cavalcanti & Henrique Nunes Parente

  2. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of the Paraíba State (UFPB), Areia, PB, Brazil

    Anderson Lopes Pereira

  3. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of the Piauí State (UFPI), Teresina, PI, Brazil

    Michelle de Oliveira Maia Parente, Arnaud Azevedo Alves, Alexandre Fernandes Perazzo & Miguel Arcanjo Moreira Filho

  4. Department of Animal Science, University of the São Paulo State (USP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

    Luana França dos Anjos

Authors
  1. Anderson Lopes Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michelle de Oliveira Maia Parente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edegleicia Alves de Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arnaud Azevedo Alves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anderson de Moura Zanine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Daniele de Jesus Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Alexandre Fernandes Perazzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Francisca Cláudia da Silva de Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Luana França dos Anjos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Hyanne Costa Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Miguel Arcanjo Moreira Filho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Hactus Souto Cavalcanti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Henrique Nunes Parente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization: MDOMP, HNP, ADMZ, DDJF; methodology: HNP, MDOMP, AFP, AAA, MAMF; investigation and data curation: ALP, EADS, FCDSDS, LFDA, HCL; formal analysis: AFP, MDOMP, AAA, MAMF; visualization: ALP, MDOMP, HSC; writing—original draft preparation: ALP, HSC; writing—review and editing: MDOMP, HNP, HSC; funding acquisition: MDOMP, HNP; resources: HNP, MDOMP, ADMZ, DDJF, AAA; supervision: HNP, MDOMP.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hactus Souto Cavalcanti.

Ethics declarations

Declaration of animal rights

Animal handling followed the guidelines recommended by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Federal University of the Maranhão State (Process Number 23115.006806/2017-76).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pereira, A.L., de Oliveira Maia Parente, M., de Sousa, E.A. et al. Nutritional strategies, performance, digestibility, and carcass traits of Santa Ines and Rabo Largo breeds in a tropical climate. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 82 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-03921-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-03921-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation