Effect of a mineral-phytobiotic supplement on meat productivity and meat quality of crossbred sheep

The article provides data on modern lamb production systems and factors affecting their quality. In order to obtain high-quality lamb, a mineral-phytobiotic additive was developed, which includes sulfate and sodium metasilicate as sources of sulfur and silicon, and a phytobiotic additive containing chili pepper, which has a fungicidal effect and exhibits antibacterial properties, intensifying the digestion process, cinnamon essential oil, which contributes to the normalization of the composition of the intestinal microflora and its stabilization. Carvacrol, contained in oregano oil, exhibits antibacterial and antifungal properties; thanks to this, it can be a good antiseptic, killing parasites that cause intestinal dysfunction. The best result was the addition of such a mixture in the amount of 1.8 % to the compound feed for young sheep in rearing from 10 days to 255 days of age. In order to study the influence of the mineral-phytobiotic supplement on growth intensity and meat quality, sheep were weighed at one day, 60, 100, 135, 180, and 255 days of age. In order to control the slaughter indicators of meat productivity, they were slaughtered at the age of 255 days (8.5 months, lamb category), since the meat of these animals is consumable. The taste properties of the meat were also assessed by tasting. As a result of the controlled slaughter, it was established that the addition of 1.8 % of the mineral-phytobiotic additive increased the live weight by 18.68 %, the slaughter weight by 22.87 %, the weight of the steamed carcass by 21.5 %, the chilled by 22.29 % of the slaughter yield by 3.52 %. Along with the increase in overall productivity, the chemical composition of lamb meat changed. In particular, protein level increased by 4.22 %, dry matter by 6.09 %, and ash by 11.25 %. The calorie content of meat increased by 2.47 %, and the protein/fat ratio approached 1 : 0.75 and was 1 : 0.79. The definition of taste qualities indicates that the meat of young animals is lighter and more delicate to taste. The nutritional value and dietary properties of meat were determined by color, tenderness, aroma, taste, juiciness, and appearance. The taste qualities of sheep were assessed by tasting. According to the organoleptic assessment, the meat from sheep of both groups had a pleasant smell, tender and juicy. According to the general assessment, the meat of the experimental group is excellent, and that of the control group is very good.