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Despite the fact that the use of rosemary and thyme residues and essential oils in animal feeding was widely documented, that of myrtle is scarce. To test the hypothesis that myrtle essential oils (MEOs) could improve goats' carcass characteristics and meat quality traits, twenty‐one male goats received a ration consisted of 40% oat hay and 60% concentrate. Experimental goat kids received the control diet supplemented with 0, 0.3 and 0.6% of myrtle essential oils (MEOs) for C, Myrt1 and Myrt2 groups respectively. The administration of MEO did not improve the daily DM intake (p > 0.05). Kids of C and Myrt2 groups had higher average daily gain than Myrt1 group (75 versus 55 g). The goats slaughtered at 19.9 kg of weight did not differ (p > 0.05) in carcass weights and carcass yield in terms of commercial dressing percentage (CDP = 41%) and real dressing percentage (RDP = 52%). The administration of MEO increased the meat polyphenol content, being higher in both Myrtle groups (87 versus. 56 μg gallic acid equivalents g‐1 fresh matter, p < 0.05). Myrtle EO administration protected kids' meat against oxidation (0.48 versus. 0.91 mg MDA/kg of meat for Myrtle and C groups, respectively, at the 9th day of storage; p < 0.05). It could be useful to include MEO as a dietary supplement in goats' rations since it improves meat's oxidative status without negative effects on FA profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the hypothesis that feeding cull ewes with Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) distillation residues (RR) and linseed improves meat quality traits; fatty acid (FA) profile, lipid oxidation, meat colour, sensory and microbiological analysis were investigated. For this, 28 Barbarine ewes received 500 g of basal diet and 700 g of concentrate. Two groups received the control concentrate (CC) with, as basal diet, straw for CCC and straw plus 200 g of RR for RCC group. The two other groups received the concentrate containing 10% of linseed (LC) with straw for CLC and straw plus 200 g of RR for RLC group. The linseed intake increased n‐3 PUFA (+28.7%) and C18:3n‐3(+41%) and decreased n‐6/n‐3 ratio from 4.55 to 3.25; while the RR diet affected only the content of branched chain fatty acid in cull ewes' meat. Feeding RR combined to linseed delayed lipid oxidation at almost ½ at Day 9 (2.38 vs. 4.63 for RLC and CLC respectively). Meat from rosemary diet had higher tenderness and lower resilience. It is concluded that the meat obtained after rosemary and linseed supply can be regarded as healthier and shows higher quality traits and greater oxidation stability under chilling storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosemary essential oils (REO) and the forage nature on ewes' performances, immune response and lambs' growth and mortality. Forty-eight dairy ewes (Sicilo-Sarde) were fed oat-hay or oat-silage supplemented with 400 g of concentrate during pregnancy and 600 g during postpartum. The experimental concentrate contained the same mixture as the control (barley, soybean meal and mineral vitamin supplement) more 0.6 g/kg of REO. Two groups were obtained with each forage (Hay groups: H-C and H-REO; Silage groups: S-C and S-REO). REO increased the dry matter (DM) intake, the nitrogen intake and retention being higher with the silage groups (P < 0.05). REO increased solid non-fat (P = 0.004) and fat contents of colostrum which was higher with hay (P = 0.002). REO decreased lamb mortality (P < 0.05) which averaged 21% for control groups and 6% for H-REO, while no mortality was recorded with S-REO. REO dietary supply improved forage intake and tended to ameliorate colostrum production; it could be a natural additive to improve ewes' performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthetic antioxidant improved the shelf life of meat products; however, consumers start to reject them for health reason. For this, the natural antioxidants like Myrtle distillate leaves (MDL) could be an interesting alternative and potential natural antioxidant given their richness in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to test the effect of myrtle distillate leaves (MDL) as natural antioxidant in premortem phase as diet of cull ewes and in postmortem phase in form of powder added to deboned legs on meat' quality. All ewes received individually 500 g of hay and 750 g of concentrate for Control (C) group; for Myrt group, the concentrate was partially replaced (400 g) by pellets containing 30% MDL and 350 g concentrate. For each ewe, both legs were used for the experiment; one leg was treated with MDL powder and the other with Control. Meat from ewes' fed MDL presented better scores for red color, aftertaste and juiciness, than control group. Meat treated with MDL powder showed the highest values of total phenolic, α‐tocopherol content and redness score with lower lipid oxidation (p <.05). The microbiological quality of meat was not affected by MDL. Myrtle distillate leaves could be used in different forms, in order to obtain higher meat product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The effects of distilled myrtle leaves (DML) intake on physiochemical traits, fatty acid profile and lipid oxidation of ewe's sausage (Merguez) were investigated. Twenty‐seven ewes were divided into three homogenous groups. Ewes were fed hay and concentrate for control group (C). They received concentrate and M‐Hay pellets, containing 87% DML, as substitute to hay in MH group; for MC group, ewes received hay, concentrate and M‐Conc pellets having 30% DML in partial substitution to concentrate. They were slaughtered at the end of trial (90 days) with an average body weight of 42 kg. DML did not affect the physicochemical and sensory properties (P > 0.05) of Merguez; whereas, it increased lipid oxidative stability (P < 0.05). MH group showed the highest values of α‐tocopherol content, C18:2‐n6 fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids. DML could be used in animal feeding to obtain higher meat product quality with better fatty acids content and antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]