Effect of dietary supplementation with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on the carcass and meat quality characteristics of goat kids

The experiment was performed on 20 male Alpine goat kids that were weaned at 30 +/- 3 days of age, and were divided into a control group (C, n=10) and an experimental group (E, n=10). During a 60-day rearing period, all animals were fed identical diets composed of milk replacer, supplementary feed mix and haylage. The diet for group E was supplemented with beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) in the amount of 50 mg/kg body weight. The kids were slaughtered at 90 +/- 3 days of age. Carcass quality was evaluated, and the chemical composition, physicochemical parameters, and sensory attributes of the quadriceps femoris muscle (musculus quadriceps femoris) were determined. It was found that group E animals were characterized by higher (p <= 0.05) values of live weight at slaughter, warm carcass weight, weights of the neck, middle neck, and flank with ribs, as well as higher (p <= 0.05) values of leg length, loin eye height and area. An analysis of meat quality revealed that meat from kids administered HMB was characterized by lower (p <= 0.05) water-holding capacity, and lower (p <= 0.05) juiciness and tenderness, as confirmed by shear force values. In comparison with group C, the intramuscular fat of group E kids had a lower (p <= 0.05) content of linolenic acid and a higher (p <= 0.05) content of eicosapentaenoic acid. The results of this study indicate that HMB dietary supplementation has a positive effect on increasing the body weight and thus the carcass weight and improves some carcass quality indicators of kids.