Evaluation of the growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs produced in Quebec

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Hammell ◽  
J. P. Laforest

Data for a total of approximately 1100 lambs tested in 12 trials from 1992 to 1995 in commercial lamb test stations in Quebec were used to determine the effect of sex, sire breed and genetic type on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Lambs were housed two to a pen and fed commercial diets. Maximum test length was 112 d. Lambs were slaughtered when their liveweight was approximately 47 ± 5 kg for the males and 43 ± 4 kg for the females. Feed intake and growth rate were measured during the test, and carcass measurements were taken at slaughter and at 24 h following slaughter. Feed intake was the average for the pen, while the growth and carcass measurements were taken individually. Males ate more per day, had better gain and were younger at slaughter than females. Females had more body fat and better carcass conformation scores than males. However, males did not have a greater loin muscle thickness compared to females. Lambs sired by Hampshire or Suffolk rams had superior growth performance and leaner carcasses than lambs sired by Dorset rams. However, Hampshire and Suffolk-sired lambs did not have a greater loin muscle thickness compared to Dorset-sired lambs. Analysis of different genetic types did not demonstrate a pronounced effect on lamb performance. No specific genetic composition was clearly superior to the others for the various variables studied. Genetic quality within a breed of sheep bought or kept for reproduction is as important as the choice of breed or the combination of breeds. Key words: Lamb, growth performance, carcass composition

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Hammell ◽  
J. P. Laforest ◽  
J. J. Dufour

Data for a total of approximately 2900 commercial pigs tested in 12 trials from 1987 to 1990 at the Beaumont test station in Quebec were used to determine the effect of sex, sire breed, cross type and parity number of the dam on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Pigs were housed four to a pen and were fed commercial diets. Feed intake and growth rate were measured during the test, and carcass measurements were taken at slaughter and at 24 or 72 h following slaughter. Castrated males ate more per day, had a better gain and reached slaughter weight (96.4 ± 5.6 kg) at a younger age than gilts. Gilts had a better carcass yield and were leaner than castrated males. Commercial pigs sired from Duroc or Duroc–Hampshire boars had a growth performance superior to that of pigs sired by Landrace, Yorkshire or Hampshire boars. Progeny from Duroc or Duroc–Hampshire boars also produced carcasses with less loin fat, a thicker loin muscle, a higher estimated lean yield and a better classification index. Pigs from three-way crosses had a higher average daily gain and a better feed conversion than pigs from other types of crosses (single, backcross, four-way, synthetic and purebred), and they reached market weight at a younger age. Most carcass characteristics were also affected by the type of cross, but no specific type of cross was clearly superior to the others for the various variables studied. An increase in parity number of the dam caused a gradual decrease in growth performance, except for pigs from parity six, which presented the best results. There was also a linear decrease in loin muscle thickness, estimated lean yield and classification index and a linear increase in loin fat thickness with increase in parity number of the dam. Key words: Pig, growth performance, carcass composition


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 2100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don V. Nguyen ◽  
Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli ◽  
Peter D. Nichols ◽  
Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of enriched omega-3 oil supplemental pellets, breed and gender on lamb liveweight (LWT), body conformation and carcass characteristics, and to assess the relationships between body conformation and growth under an intensive finishing condition. Sixty ewe and wether prime lambs 7 months old were randomly allocated to one of five dietary treatments: no oil inclusion (Control); 2.5% canola oil; 5% canola oil; 2.5% flaxseed oil and 5% flaxseed oil, balanced by breed (purebred Merinos (M × M) and Corriedale × Merino (C × M) and White Suffolk × Corriedale (W × C) first crosses). Lambs were individually supplemented with 1 kg pellets per day and had free access to lucerne hay and water throughout the 7-week feeding trial, after a 3-week adaptation. Dietary oil inclusion did not cause significant differences in daily feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics (P > 0.05). However, first-cross W × C lambs had significantly higher feed intake, chest girth and body conformation score (P < 0.05) than M × M and C × M lambs. Carcass weight, dressing percentage and fat depth of crossbred lambs were significantly higher than those of M × M (P < 0.05). Significant interactions between oil inclusion and breed on average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio were observed. There were positive and highly significant correlations among LWT, ADG and body conformation measurements (P < 0.01). These findings suggest that prime lamb producers can better manage and match their breeding goals with feed resources by supplementing first-cross C × M lambs with pellets containing 5% canola oil or feeding first-cross W × C lambs with 5% flaxseed oil pellets during the 10-week intensive finishing period.


Author(s):  
Xin Jian Lei ◽  
Jun Bae ◽  
Ju Lee ◽  
Sang Lee ◽  
In Kim

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of expanded diets on growth performance, meat quality, and carcass characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 80 finishing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments: 1) unexpanded corn-soybean meal diets; 2) expanded corn-soybean meal diets. Each treatment consisted of ten replicate pens with four pigs (2 gilts and 2 barrows) per pen. There were no differences in daily feed intake and daily gain throughout the experiment (P less than 0.05). However, expanded diets decreased feed conversion ratio compared with unexpanded diets (P less than 0.05). Expanded diets had no effect on carcass characteristics and meat quality with the exception of increased sensory evaluation (color) of meat compared with unexpanded diets (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, expanded diets can improve feed conversion ratio but have no effect on daily gain and daily feed intake and sensory evaluation of meat color.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-253
Author(s):  
M. A. Oguntoye ◽  
O. M. O. Idowu

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary copper and probiotic supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler Chickens. A total of 180-day old marshal broiler chicks of mixed sex were randomly allotted to six treatment groups of 30 birds each. The Treatments were divided into three replicates of ten birds each; starter and finisher diets were formulated and fed for a period of fifty-six days. The dietary treatments were subjected to completely randomized design experimental layout which was made up of probiotic (0 and 500ppm) and copper (0, 125 and 250mg).The chicks were fed the broiler starter diet for the first 28 days and broiler finisher for the last 28 days. Treatment effect on broiler body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were determined on a weekly basis. Data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and, Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to separate significant means. Dietary supplementation of copper and probiotic had no significant (P> 0.05) effect on final weight (FW), daily weight gain (DWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at the starter phase of the experiment. However, at finisher phase, inclusion of probiotic resulted in higher significant (P < 0.05) values for FW (2214.12g/b) DWG (60.22g/b/d), FI (159.02g/b/d), and FCR (2.64). The carcass yields of the broilers were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced by copper and probiotic supplementations. However, lower value (1.07%) was obtained for abdominal fat in broilers fed 250mg Cu/kg supplemented diet. The study concluded that supplementation of copper and probiotics resulted in improved growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggy Palesa Mabena ◽  
Moses Ratsaka ◽  
Thobela Nkukwana ◽  
Ingrid Malebana ◽  
Douglas Nkosi

Abstract This experiment evaluated varying levels of Amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake (ANC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in pigs. Thirty Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) pigs were stratified by weight (average live weight of 20 ± 5 kg) and randomly allocated to the five experimental diets that contained 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ANC/kg DM. Each pig served as a replicate unit, housed individually. Bodyweight, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly throughout the trial period. On completion of the growth trial, following a 3-day adaptation, a nutrient digestibility study was conducted over 5 days. Thereafter, pigs were fasted for twelve hours, weighed, slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected for analysis. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment, but ADGs were reduced at ANC levels > 15%, resulting in poor FCR. Protein digestibility was reduced at ANC levels > 15%, while ether extract and fibre levels increased. Warm and cold carcass weights were lower at ANC levels > 15, with improved meat redness and lightness. It was concluded that ANC could replace SBM in the diet of growing pigs at less than 15% inclusion level.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 67-70
Author(s):  
R B Makwana ◽  
S R Bhagwat ◽  
S S Parikh ◽  
B D Savaliya ◽  
C N Jadav

The present study was carried out for six weeks to investigate the effects of adding graded levels (0, 0.1 and 0.5%) of garlic (Allium sativum) powder to the basal experimental diet on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. One hundred and eighty (n = 180) day old unsexed white commercial broiler chicks (Cobb-400) were randomly distributed into three dietary treatments of 60 birds/treatment and each treatment contained 4 replicates (15 birds/replicate). The dietary treatments were controlled basal diet (T1), and a diet supplemented with garlic powder at 0.1% (T2) and 0.5% (T3). Daily feed intake, weekly body weight, and residue leftover were recorded to calculate the feed conversion ratio (FCR). At the end of the experiment, six birds from each group were sacrificed to determine the carcass characteristics. Results revealed that dietary supplementation of 0.1% garlic powder (T2) significantly (p less than 0.01) improved body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and FCR as compared to birds supplemented with 0.5% garlic powder (T3) and control diet (T1). Dietary supplementation of 0.1% garlic (T2) resulted in significant (p less than 0.05) improvement in dressed yield as comparedto T3 and T1. On the other hand, comparable (p greator than 0.05) effect was observed on shrinkage loss, blood loss, feather loss, eviscerated yieldand relative weight of giblet. Thus, dietary supplementation of 0.1% garlic powder had beneficial effects on growth performance and dressed yield of broiler chicks.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document