Abstract

This study was established to determine how Awassi male lamb carcass and meat quality features would change if soybean meal were substituted with sesame meal. Twenty-four lambs started with 15.7 ± 0.33 kg BW were chosen and allocated randomly to two dietary treatments; the 0 sesame meal (CON diet) or the 12.5 sesame meal (SM12.5 diet). Lambs were placed in experimental pens separately that equipped with plastic waterers feeders to allow free access to diets and water throughout the experiment. Lambs were slaughtered at day 84 for measuring carcass traits and meat quality. Fasted and carcass weights were measured as dressing percentage was calculated. Non-carcass parts were separated from the carcass and weighed. Carcass features examination included measuring carcass linear dimensions, leg cuts and longissimus dorsi muscle characteristics. Meat quality was evaluated after two weeks for color (L*a*b* co-ordinates), pH, water holding capacity, values of shear force and cooking loss. Lambs consumed SM12.5 had more (P < 0.05) fasting live weight (kg), and weights of hot and cold carcasses compared to CON group. Other carcass measurements were not affected by the SM inclusion (P > 0.05). Similarly, meat quality parameters did not differ between the two dietary treatments. Therefore, according to these findings, feeding SM to Awassi lambs would not have an adverse impact on the quality of their meat or carcass characteristics. However, performance was enhanced as the fasting weight, as well as hot and cold carcass weight was improved. © The Author(s) 2025