Desenvolvimento dos componentes da carcaça de cordeiros terminados com dieta contendo quitosana

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of chitosan as an additive in animal nutrition. The experiment was carried out in the experimental confinement of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados - Mato Grosso do Sul. Twenty-four Suffolk x Texel crossbred 24 lambs were used, aging 4 ± 0.5 months, average weight of 20 ± 5 kg. The design used in the experiment was randomized blocks, where the animals were randomly distributed in blocks by weight. The lambs were housed in individual pens of 1.5 m2 with free access to the feeder and drinker. The treatments evaluated were: 1) Chitosan: 3g / d and 2) Control - standard diet without additive, both treatments being given top dress with a portion of protein mix (ground soybean and mineral) that was supplied before the first feed. The variables analyzed were rib eye area (REA), rib eye area in relation to body weight (REA / BW), subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and subcutaneous fat thickness in relation to body weight (SFT / BW). The inclusion of chitosan in the diet did not significantly influence treatment and interaction. While time provided increased measurements, the inclusion of chitosan did not result in changes in carcass component development.