The effect of beef tallow in lamb nutrition on fattening and carcass characteristics
Trial was carried out on 60 suckling lambs of Mis sheep population, divided into three groups. Beside milk, lambs consumed alfalfa hay and iso-protein concentrate mixtures (15% CP) ad libitum. Forage mixture I was of standard composition, whereas mixtures II and III contained 4 and 6% of beef tallow, respectively. Energy value of used mixtures I, II and III was 7,29, 7,71 and 7,94 MJ, respectively. Fattening duration was 60 days. Statistical processing of obtained data was performed using standard mathematical-statistical methods. Lambs on treatments I:II:III realized average daily gain of: 0,280 : 0,303 : 0,277 kg. Conversion of dry matter of diet was: 2,68: 2,58: 2,93 kg; of energy: 19,08 : 18,37 : 20,71 MJ NEM; of protein: 481 : 451: 514 g. Values of the meat yield of warm carcass were: 57,89 : 58,63 : 58,46%. The best production results in regard to gain, and feed conversion were realized by lambs on treatment with 4% of beef tallow in the mixtures.