The focus of this study was to investigate the effect of lycopene as an antioxidant supplement on growth
performance, carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid profile and meat lipid oxidation in lambs. Twentyeight
weaned (90 days old) Bamei lambs were equally allotted to four dietary treatments and fed basal
diet alone (Control) or basal diet supplemented with 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of lycopene from tomato
extracts. After 120 days of feeding, the lycopene-supplemented groups showed a greater dry matter
intake (P < 0.05) than the control and tended to increase the average daily gain (P = 0.068); the tissue
depth (GR values) increased after administration of lycopene (P < 0.05). Dietary lycopene tended to make
the meat darker and redder as indicated by lower lightness (P < 0.05) and hue angle values (P < 0.05) at
24 h. Muscle fat content and lipid oxidation declined in the lycopene-supplemented groups (P < 0.05),
while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In general, dietary
lycopene supplementation in the diet improved the growth of lambs and produced meat of lower fat and
higher polyunsaturated fatty acid contents.