Does feeding under organic farming conditions affect the meat and fat quality of finishing lambs?

摘要

From 2000 to 2004, four experiments were performed on finishing lambs fed feeds produced under organic farming conditions. The protein sources were rapeseed and other grain legumes. Conventionally fed lambs were given soya meal as a protein source. Feeding with soya meal is not allowed under organic production conditions. We investigated the effects of different diets on the growth, and meat and fat quality of finishing lambs. The growth of the lambs was better under conventional feeding conditions compared with organic feeding. The meat quality was not different between both feeding systems. The influence on fat quality was related to the fatty acid composition of the feed. From the nutritional point of view, organic farming-based feeds showed no advantage over conventional feeding in relation to fat composition of lambs..