Abstract

The present work describes the effect of nutritive level on horse carcass traits and on meat quality. Eighteen male Italian Heavy Draught Horse (IHDH) breed foals were employed in the study. Soon after foaling they were randomly subdivided into three groups according to three nutritive level classes: 150%, 180% and 200% of maintenance requirements. Live weight, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage of each animal were recorded. After slaughtering, meat samples were collected from Longissimus dorsi muscle. The right half carcass of each animal was then divided into cuts. Each one was subdivided into lean, fat and bones. Live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage were not affected by nutritive level (P>0.05). Horses fed with the lower nutritive level showed a higher incidence of lean and a lower incidence of fat (P<0.01). Moreover, fatty acid profile was not affected by nutritive level (P>0.05). Probably the tendency of IHDH foals to concentrate adipogenesis in the subcutaneous district could explain the lack of influence of nutritive level on meat quality parameters and its influence on carcass and cut composition, which tend to be richer in fat. © 2014 The Authors. Animal Science Journal published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Autore Pugliese

• Tateo Alessandra , Maggiolino Aristide , De Palo Pasquale , Centoducati Pasquale

Tutti gli autori

• TATEO A.;MAGGIOLINO A.;DE PALO P.;CENTODUCATI P.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2014

ISSN

1344-3941

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

8

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

8

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile