Macedo et al., 2008. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 37 (10): 1860-1868

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the tissue and chemical compositions of longissimus dorsi muscle of Suffolk lambs under creep feeding system with ration containing 0.0, 6.60, 13.20 and 19.80% sunflower seed. The lambs were identified, weighed and randomly distributed to paddocks composed of four replicates per ration, totalling to 16 lambs. The rations contained 2.65, 2.78, 2.89 or 2.93 Mcal/kg of ME, and 18.38. 18.75, 19.98 and 21.18% CP and were fed ad libitum to the lambs. The lambs were weighed every 14 days and kept with the ewe until they reached the pre-established slaughter body weight (28 kg). The carcasses were chilled in cold chamber at 5C for 24 h, and then were split into seven anatomical regions for collection of the left and right loins. The measured variables were weight of the loin components (muscle, bone and fat), chemical composition and fatty acid profiles of muscle, bone and fat. Results revealed that sunflower seed influenced the total loin weight, muscle and connective tissue weights, and connective tissue yield. The increase in sunflower seed percentage in the diet decreased the amount of lauric acid and palmitic acid (saturated), but increased the oleic and linoleic acids (unsaturated). The nutritional quality of lamb improves with the increase use of sunflower seeds in the diet.