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A note on the effect of time of weaning and weight at slaughter on feed utilization of intensively fed lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. R. Ørskov ,
C. Fraser  and
J. C. Gill
E. R. Ørskov
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB
C. Fraser
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB
J. C. Gill
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB
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Summary

Fifty-four Suffolk × North Country Cheviot lambs were weaned at either 25, 33 or 41 days of age and slaughtered at either 35, 45 or 55 kg live weight.

Increasing the age at weaning reduced the growth check, increased creep feed consumption and decreased food required for fattening. For each kg increase in weight at slaughter there was an increase of 0·035 kg in dry matter required per kg gain. The female lambs had lower growth rates, lower efficiency of food utilization and a higher killing-out percentage than male lambs.

For the most efficient utilization of food, lambs should be weaned at about 33 days of age.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , June 1973 , pp. 311 - 314
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1973

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References

REFERENCES

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