The effect of cation-anion difference and crossbreeding on carcass characteristics in Lori-Bakhtiari and Lori-Bakhtiari × Romanov × Pakistani crossbred lambs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietry cation-anion difference (DCAD) levels and crossbreeding on carcass characteristics of lambs. In this study, 30 Lori Bakhtiari and  first generation Lori Bakhtiari × Romanov × Pakistani lambs (50% Lori Bakhtiari, 25% Romanov, 25% Pakistani)  with an average age of 90±10 days and an average weight of 33±1.5 kg were divided into two groups of 15 lambs, each group was fed with a different level of DCAD. Carcass weight, carcass yield, viscera weight, cross-sectional area of Longissimus muscle and carcass length did not show any significant difference between purebred and crossbreds and also between diets. Crossbreeding also significantly increased the weight of valuable and salable carcass parts (P<0.05). However, according to our findings, no difference was observed in terms of weight of salable carcass parts between anionic and cationic treatmentsgenotype and DCAD did not have any significant effect on the composition of carcass fatty acids. The meat shear force of Lori Bakhtiari × Romanov × Pakistani lambs compare to Lori Bakhtiari  lambs and anionic diet compare to cationinc diet was lower (P<0.05). Lori Bakhtiari lambs had a higher mean in brightness index and Longissimus muscle redness than Lori Bakhtiari × Romanov × Pakistani lambs (P<0.05). Therefore, anionic diets and Crossbreeding can be considered as effective ways to increase the quality and crispiness of sheep meat.