Effect of Curcuma longa supplementation in post-weaning lambs ration on performance, carcass and meat quality

. The current study aimed to examine the effects of Curcuma longa (CL) addition to the post-weaning lambs ration on production efficiency and carcass quality. Twenty-eight post-weaning (12–14 week old) Awassi male lambs were randomly divided into four groups of seven lambs each, with the first (T1) group fed a standard ration, and the second (T2), third (T3), and fourth (T4) group fed standard rations supplemented with 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg CL powder, respectively. Treatment lasted 12 weeks. Data analysis revealed that CL supplementation improved ( P ≤ 0.05) overall body weight gain, daily body weight gain, slaughter weight, and hot and cold carcass weight compared to control. In addition, CL-treated (200 and 300 mg/kg doses) animals showed significantly increased empty body weight, dressing %, broad tail fat, and rib eye area in comparison to the control group. Regarding the physical dissection of three ribs, CL significantly enhanced three rib weight and lean % in T3 and T4 compared to other treatments. Bone percentage decreased significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) in T2 and T3, while fat percentage increased significantly in T2 and T3 compared to other treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of post-weaning lamb ration with 300 mg CL improved production traits and meat quality, as well as increased carcass weight, dressing percentage, and lean %. In addition, the fat metabolic pathway in the animal’s body was diverted towards the broad tail, leading to the production of carcasses with a minimal amount of fat desired by consumers.