The effects of adding waste sesame seeds to diets on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat fatty acid composition of Karayaka lambs

This study aims to determine the effects of the inclusion of waste sesame seed (WSS) to concentrate feed on performance, carcass characteristics, and meat fatty acid profile of Karayaka lambs. A total of twenty-three lambs were randomly allocated to a control group (11 lambs, with an average live weight of 23.39 +/- 0.58 kg) and an experimental group (12 lambs, with an average live weight 23.55 +/- 0.41 kg). Also, each of the group was divided into two subgroups according to their gender. The lambs were fed with isonitrogenous (17% CP) and isocaloric (2650 kcal/kg ME) concentrate feeds containing either 0% WSS (control) or 10% WSS (experimental) for 60 days. Final live weight, average daily weight gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and carcass traits were not affected by diet, although they were higher in males than females (P<0.01). In addition, males presented a higher percentage of C17:1, C18:2 n6, C20:3 n6 (P<0.01), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (P<0.05) than females. In conclusion, the addition of WSS to the lamb diet did not increase the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in meat. However, WSS can be included up to 10% in concentrate feed of lambs during fattening period without negative effects on performance and carcass yield.