Effect of condensed tannins on growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality, and antioxidant capacity of mutton sheep.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of condensed tannins on growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality and antioxidant capacity of mutton sheep. A total of 27 Duhan hybrid (Duper sheep x small-tailed Han sheep) ewes were randomly divided into three groups, with nine replicates in each group and one sheep in each replicate. Sheep in control group were fed with a basal diet, sheep in low-dose group and high-dose group were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 39.47 and 78.94 g/kg condensed tannin, respectively. The experiment lasted for 60 d. The results showed that final weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake in the low-dose group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the feed to gain ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The average daily feed intake of the high-dose group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The GR value and carcass weight in the low-dose group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The pH24h value, cohesiveness and mastication of mutton in the low dose and high-dose groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The drip loss rate of mutton in the low-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the cooking loss was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The T-AOC, activity of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in the serum of mutton sheep in the low-dose group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the content of MDA was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The serum CAT activity of the high-dose group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The study indicates that the dietary 39.47 g/kg condensed tannins can improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, slaughter performance and meat quality of mutton sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]