Growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and lipid metabolism of lambs fed bergamot (Citrus × bergamia Risso) by-products

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of dietary bergamot (Citrus × bergamia Risso) by-products partially replacing maize on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and lipid metabolism in rumen, abomasum and meat. Moreover, for assessing the contribution of bergamot bioactive compounds, unprocessed bergamot pulp was compared with pulp from which these compounds had been extracted. Thirty-six 2-month-old lambs were divided into 3 groups and fed for 50 days: a maize-based diet (CON), or the same CON diet with 200 g/kg DM of dried bergamot pulp, or the same CON diet with 200 g/kg DM of dephenolized bergamot pulp. Dietary treatments did not affect growth performance, carcass traits, and ruminal fermentation. The chemical characteristics of bergamot pulps influenced the ruminal lipid metabolism, reducing the accumulation of undesirable C18:1 t10 in meat. However, the overall fatty acid composition of meat remained unaltered.