Generic Zilpaterol Sources Affect Similarly the Meat Quality of Hairy Lambs When Compared with Patent Zilpaterol

Twenty-four Pelibuey × Katahdin (46.7±2.4 kg initial shrunk weight) crossbred intact male lambs were used in a 33-d growth-performance experiment order to compared two sources of generic zilpaterol vs. patent zilpaterol on five variables of meat quality (water holding capacity, color, purge loss, cook loss, and shear force) shear force) of lambs finished with a high-energy diet. Dietary treatments consisted of a corn-based finishing diet (13.3% crude protein and 2.11 Mcal of net energy for maintenance/kg dry matter) supplemented with no zilpaterol (control) or supplemented with the label dosage (125 mg of product/kg diet, as-fed basis) with patent brand zilpaterol [Zilmax® (ZIL)] or with two generic ZH sources [Grofactor® (GRO) or Zipamix® (ZIPA)]. Weight at slaughter was 50.93, 54.55, 54.20, and 54.50 kg for control, ZIL, GRO, and ZIPA, respectively. The average intake of zilpaterol was 0.16 mg ZH/kg live weight. There were no differences between zilpaterol sources on meat quality variables evaluated. Compared to controls, zilpaterol supplementation did not appreciably affect color, water-holding capacity, and drip loss. However, supplemental zilpaterol averaged an increased 36% shear force (4.11 vs. 2.63). It is concluded that the generic zilpaterol sources tested in the present experiment affect similarly the meat quality of hairy lambs fed a high-energy diet than patent brand zilpaterol. Zilpaterol affected mainly the tenderness of the meat.