Articles | Volume 68, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-68-57-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-68-57-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Effect of dietary protein level and lamb breed on meat physicochemical traits, fatty acid profile and nutritional indices
Hadhami Hajji
University of Gabès, Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Regions Institute (IRA), 4119 Medenine, Tunisia
Samir Smeti
University of Carthage, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Animal and Forage Productions Laboratory, Rue Hédi Karray, 2049 Ariana, Tunisia
Ilyes Mekki
University of Carthage, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Animal and Forage Productions Laboratory, Rue Hédi Karray, 2049 Ariana, Tunisia
Naziha Atti
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University of Carthage, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Animal and Forage Productions Laboratory, Rue Hédi Karray, 2049 Ariana, Tunisia
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Yathreb Yagoubi, Naziha Atti, Samir Smeti, Jihene Abidi, and Mokhtar Mahouachi
Arch. Anim. Breed., 69, 495–505, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-495-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-495-2026, 2026
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This study investigated how feeding systems and acacia foliage supply, a natural tannin source, affect lamb growth, carcass and meat quality. Twenty-eight fat-tailed Barbarine lambs were either grazed or stall-fed, with or without acacia supplementation. Grazing improved growth and carcass yield, while tannins had little impact on meat quality. The results show that the effects of tannins depend on the main diet, highlighting their potential for sustainable lamb production.
Amira Zioud, Martino Musati, Guido Mangione, Salvatore Gagliano, Wafa Hajji, Samir Smeti, Sihem Bellagha, and Ines Essid
Arch. Anim. Breed., 69, 45–55, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-45-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-69-45-2026, 2026
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This study explores the potential of using cull ewe meat to enhance the value of traditional sheep meat products, focusing on the Tunisian dried meat "kaddid". Two local sheep breeds, i.e. Noire de Thibar (NT) and Barbarine (BR), were evaluated at two slaughter ages (3 months and 5 years). Results showed that BR raw meat had more antioxidants (α-tocopherols) and healthy fats; however, kaddid from NT ewes had higher tocopherol levels, with favourable polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profiles.
Samir Smeti, Hadhami Hajji, Margalida Joy, and Naziha Atti
Arch. Anim. Breed., 67, 177–184, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-67-177-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-67-177-2024, 2024
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Rosemary essential oils could be recommended for dairy ewes fed silage to improve the nutritional quality of their milk for human consumption.
Ilyes Mekki, Samir Smeti, Hadhami Hajji, Mokhtar Mahouachi, and Naziha Atti
Arch. Anim. Breed., 65, 113–120, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-65-113-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-65-113-2022, 2022
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Oak acorn diets fed to lambs during the pre-weaning period did not negatively affect their future growth performance. Replacing barley grain with oak acorn in concentrate during the post-weaning period had no effects on a lamb’s growth performance, health and viability. Oak acorn can replace up to 40 % of barley grain in finishing feedlot lamb diets. The substitution of oak acorn for barley has no effects on carcass traits.
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Short summary
The study evaluated the effects of crude protein levels (high: 16 %, low: 11 %) on meat traits and fatty acid (FA) profiles of three sheep breeds. Only the breed type affected the FA profile: palmitic acid (C16:0) was higher in Queue Fine de l'Ouest (QFO), while stearic acid (C18:0) was higher in Barbarin (BB) and Noire de Thibar (NT). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and PUFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio were higher in BB. Health indices were favorable in BB and NT.
The study evaluated the effects of crude protein levels (high: 16 %, low: 11 %) on meat traits...