Crude Glycerin and Waste Sesame Seed in the Diets of Growing Lambs: Impacts on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Fatty Acid Profile

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a combination of crude glycerin and waste sesame seed on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, carcass characteristics, and meat fatty acid profile of lambs. Twenty-four male Karayaka lambs with initial body weights of 26.5 +/- 0.53 kg were randomly divided into four groups and raised in individual pens. For 70 days, lambs were fed ad libitum the one of four concentrates: concentrate without CG and WSS (control), concentrate with 10% CG (G), concentrate with 10% WSS (W), and concentrate with 5% CG and 5% WSS (GW). All diets consisted of 85% concentrate and 15% forage (wheat straw). The dietary treatments did not affect dry matter intake, average daily gain, or feed efficiency. The rumen parameters and carcass measurements did not differ among the treatments. Greater levels of linoleic acid, total polyunsaturated fatty acids, and total n-6 fatty acids (p < 0.001) and lesser levels of margaric acid (p = 0.008) were detected in the W diet compared to the other diets. Overall, a combination of CG and WSS did not effectively increase the beneficial fatty acid content of lamb meat. However, both byproducts can partially replace grains as alternative energy sources in lambs' concentrates up to 10% without affecting growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and carcass characteristics.