Combined effect of long-term antioxidant vitamin E. and selenium injection on slaughter and carcass measurements in Saidi lambs

unknown. Slaughter and carcass measurements were studied following long-term antioxidant (Vitamin E and selenium, E-Se) injection in 23 Saidi lambs at 2 weeks of age. Animals were divided into two groups, a control group (12 animals) with no E-Sc treatment and the other group (11 animals) was injected weekly with 20 mg After suckling period animals were fed roughage and concentrate diet adlibitum. Four animals were slaughtered from each group for slaughter and carcass measurements. Vitamin E Selenium treatment increased fasting body weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage by 34, 25, 31 and 9 , respectively. Accordingly , most offal parts were heavier in E-SE treated animals than in control. Right carcass side weight and carcass cuts exception of tail weight were heavier in E-Se treated animals. Fore and hind quarters weight increased by about 36 and 21 , respectively due to E-Sc treatment. Dorsal length of carcass , leg thickness and depth of chesthad higher values in favor of treated animals. Joints components of shoulder, loin and leg were heavier in treated animals, however the percentage within each joint tended to be high only in favor of muscle and treated animals in shoulder (68 Vs 61)and loin(59 Vs 54). Fat percentage of shoulder was much lower in treated animals than in control (14 Vs 21 ). Vitamin E with selenium injection increased empty weight of gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Total stomach compartments and intestinal segments weights increased by about 28 and 22, respectively. Such increase was mainly due to the increase of rumen weight. Rumen weight increased by about 38 due to E-Se treatment In conclusion, vitamin E with selenium injection improved slaughter and carcassmeasurements, GIT weight particularly rumen in Saidi lambs.