Doha: The Animal Research Department of the Agricultural Research Department conducted a test of a research experiment on sheep fattening using non-traditional feed Aloe vera. The feeding experiment lasted about 70 days, during which three groups of sheep were fed at different levels of Aloe vera at 10 and 15%, and the third group was considered as a control group.
During this period, the amount of compound feed eaten, the weekly weight and the animals gained weight were monitored. At the end of the experiment, the final weight of each animal was recorded and blood samples were taken for laboratory analysis.
The animals were transported to the slaughterhouse of Al Shahaniya Municipality, where they were slaughtered in the Islamic manner and in accordance with the applicable health controls and requirements. The weight of the external parts of the carcass was recorded, including the head, the four legs, the skin, and then the weights of the visceral organs (internal) such as the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, intestines, kidneys, etc. at a temperature of 4֯C until the next day.
The carcasses of the three groups were weighed after cooling to know the percentage of cold dressing percentage and the percentage of shrinks. The carcasses were divided longitudinally, weighed and cut the left half into the six basic cuts in addition to the tail. The cuts include: neck, front leg, back leg, chest, shoulder with ribs and back and each piece is weighed.
For meat quality tests, a muscle was taken and sent to the laboratory at Al Shahaniya Animal Production Research Station to analyse some physical and chemical tests of meat.
