Growth performance and carcass traits of Bharat Merino lambs maintained under intensive feeding and grazing with supplementation

Abstract

The reported study was undertaken On Sharat Merino weaner lambs to assess their relative growth performance and carcass characteristics under intensive feeding on 50:50 roughage and concentrate based complete feed (G1) and grazing with concentrate supplementation (02). The finisher lanlbs after termination of90 days experiment were slaughlered for carcass quality evaluation. The birth and weaning weights, total gain and ADG dyring pre weaning phase of growth were similar in G1 and 02 while 6 months weight, total gain and ADG in post weaning phase were higber in G1 than G2. The pre slaughter weight, empty live weight were also higher in G1 than G2. The yields of rack and breast and fore shank cuts were higher (P<0.05) in G1 than 02 and that the cut yield ofleg, lion, rack, neckand shoulder and breast and for shank averaged to 33.0, 13.4, 13.1, 22.6 and 16.7% respvctively. The lion eye area wall higher in G1 than G2, while the KOH bone content of the different cut was generally higher in G2 than G1. The depot content was also higher in G1 thart G2. it is concluded that growth performance of Bharat Merino lambs during 3-6 months Was better under intensiVe feeding thin grazing with supplementation. Further, the finisher lambs raised all both the feeding protocol provided carcass of acceptable quality.