The Effect of Diets Containing High-Moisture Corn or Triticale Grain on Animal Performance and the Fatty Acid Composition of Lamb Muscles

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The growing demand for functional foods has increased consumer interest in lamb and hogget. These types of meat deliver considerable health benefits; they are easily digestible, nutritious, and have desirable sensory attributes. In Poland, lamb meat is expensive due to high production costs and a high supply of lambs of wool breeds that are not suitable for fattening due to a slow growth rate. In view of the ongoing search for effective methods of producing high-quality lamb, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of diets containing high-moisture corn and triticale, as cheap grain feed, on nutrient digestibility and utilization, fattening performance, and the content of fatty acids in meat, and to investigate the rationale behind increasing the inclusion rate of cereal grain in finishing diets for lambs of a dual-purpose breed. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets with different inclusion levels of high-moisture corn (HMC) and triticale grain (TG) on nutrient digestibility and utilization, the growth performance of lambs, and the fatty acid profile of the leg muscle. The experiment was performed on 24 young rams, divided into four groups based on grain type and inclusion rate (50% or 75% DM). The higher inclusion rate of cereal grain and a lower concentration of crude fiber (CF) in the feed ration decreased CF digestibility by 26% and 35% in diets containing HMC and TG, respectively. Diets containing HMC increased crude fat digestibility relative to animals receiving TG. Final body weight and average daily gain were highest in lambs fed a diet containing 50% HMC. Grain type had no effect on nitrogen (N) retention or the proportions of SFA and UFA in lamb meat. Diets containing HMC decreased total cholesterol levels in the leg muscle. HMC can be a valuable component of diets for growing lambs when included at up to 50% of the ration. An increase in the dietary inclusion rate of cereal grain to 75% can be recommended only in the case of TG.