RESUMEN
This study investigated the effects of feeding graded levels of sun-dried red grape pomace (GP; 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) on growth, carcass and meat physico-chemical quality attributes of Dohne Merino lambs for 42â¯days. Dry matter intake increased quadratically with a critical value (i.e., optimum inclusion level) of 11.3% GP (Pâ¯≤â¯0.05). Diet exhibited similar quadratic responses for average daily gain, live, hot and cold carcass weights with optimum inclusion levels at 9.6, 9.7, 12, 2 and 12.1, respectively (Pâ¯≤â¯0.05). Overall, meat quality traits were not negatively affected by GP inclusion (Pâ¯>â¯.05). Gross profit was influenced by diet, with an optimum inclusion level at 12.2% (quadratic; Pâ¯≤â¯0.05). Overall, inclusion of 12.2% GP in lamb finishing diets at the expense of oat bran and wheat bran middlings improved lamb productivity, without compromising meat quality.