Abstract
Sixteen weaned (3.5-4 months) entire male lambs from each of Awassi and Karadi were weighed and randomly divided equally into two groups to receive concentrate (16% crude protein and 2769 kcal energy) either ad libitum or 3% of their body weights, and to be slaughtered at 36 or 44 kg. Results revealed that overall means of daily gain in weight, dressing percentage based on slaughter and empty body weight, rib eye area and fat thickness were 0.258±0.01 kg, 46.54± 0.49%, 54.35 ± 0.40%, 14.98 ±0.44 cm2 and 2.86 ± 0.12 mm, respectively. It seems that Awassi lambs significantly surpass Karadi lambs in dressing percentage based on slaughter weight and had thicker subcutaneous fat, only. Also, lambs fed ad lib excell significantly those lambs fed 3% in daily gain in weight, dressing percentage based on slaughter weight, and fat thickness. Lambs slaughtered at 44 kg had significantly higher dressing percentage, rib eye area and fat thickness.
Highlights
It is well known that small ruminant constitute the majority of the ruminant population in developing countries [37], and are considered the key resource within the frame of future international agriculture species [18], and contribute significantly to household economy [34]
The aim of the current study is to evaluate Awassi and Karadi for growth performance and carcass traits raised under two level of feeding and slaughtered at two different weights
Fattening period and average daily gain in weight of Awassi and Karadi lambs maintained under two different feeding level and slaughtered at two different weights are given in Table [1]
Summary
It is well known that small ruminant constitute the majority of the ruminant population in developing countries [37], and are considered the key resource within the frame of future international agriculture species [18], and contribute significantly to household economy [34]. Knowledge of the effect of breed, nutrition and stage of maturity on growth performance of lambs must be applied to obtain efficient conversion of feed by the growing lambs into production of muscle with optimum amount of fat and minimum bone [25]. For this reason, the aim of the current study is to evaluate Awassi and Karadi for growth performance and carcass traits raised under two level of feeding and slaughtered at two different weights. Since the interaction of studied traits was not significant, the interaction was excluded from the results
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