Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2012, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (11): 144-144.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2012.11.050

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The Role of Atriplex Shrubs for the Production of High Quality Sheep and Goat Meat

WANG Xiao-guang, WU Jiang-hong, QIU Xiao, LIU Ya-hong ( 1 .Inner Mongolia Pratacuhure Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hohhot 010031, China; 2. Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010031, China)   

  • Online:2012-11-20 Published:2012-11-20

Abstract: This review examines the role of halophytic forage shrubs such as A triplex spp. in the production of high quality sheep or goat meat. It is apparent that A triplex shrubs have the potential to produce a carcass with less fat and increase muscle vitamin E to maintain the meat color. This review has outlined the best ways of using Atriplex shrubs on improving meat quality and composition as well as increasing vitamin E based on considering fanning condition and animal digestion. Difficulties arise because Atriplex shrubs are low to moderate in energy values,and incapable of increasing live weight gain to produce commercially desirable carcass, unless the animals are supplemented with either high quality forages or concentrates. This review also highlights the role of A triplex shrubs in sheep and goats meat production. Because of their shootbud browsing ability, goats may have an increased potential for better live weight gain, higher carcass lean and muscle vitamin E levels than that of sheep.

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