Meat quality of Santa Inês sheep fed forage palm (Opuntia ficus-indica, Mill) and water restriction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical composition, fatty acids, and sensory properties of meat from Santa Inês sheep fed forage palm in the diet and with water restriction. They used 42 non-castrated male Santa Inês lambs, with about 180 days of age and an average weight of 21.6 ± 2.2 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and six repetitions, and the data were submitted to regression analysis, factorial (level × water), and contrast between the control treatment and others. The treatments consisted of the inclusion of spineless cactus (0, 30, 50, and 70%). In treatments containing cactus pear (36 animals), half of the animals were placed under voluntary water consumption restriction. According to the physicochemical characteristics analyzed, lipids suffered an increasing linear effect (p