Influenza dell'età di macellazione sulle caratteristiche delle carcasse e delle carni di struzzi allevati nel Sud Italia

The research was carried on 48
ostriches fed 3 diets different in
their ingredients and in crude protein
(CP) content. Diet 1 (CP
17.7% DM) consisted in dried alfa-
alfa 50%, maize silage 25% and
commercial concentrate; diet 2
(CP 15.3% DM) in dried alfa-alfa
40%, maize silage 25% and commercial
concentrate 35%; diet 3
(CP 21.4% DM) in dried alfa-alfa
60% and 40% of the same commercial
concentrate utilised in
the diet 1. The diet affected some
infra vitam parameters, as age at
slaughter and daily weight gain.
The diet 1 determined the best
daily weight gain (262.2 vs 229.8
vs 223.9 g respectively for the
diet 1, 2 and 3). The relieves at
the slaughter showed only few differences
among the 3 groups. It
seems interesting the lower accumulation
of fat in the animals fed
diet 2. The yield (% of liveweight)
of hind quarters and of meat were
not affected by diet. On the other
hand, the muscles to bones ratio
of the hind quarters resulted more
favourable in the animals of the
group 1 (6.6 vs 6.0 vs 6.3, respectively
for the diet 1, 2 and 3).
The chemical composition of the
meat was not affected by diet
and confirmed the values reported
in the literature (moisture
77.0%, crude protein 21.1%,
ether extract 0,8%, ash 1.2%).