The Effect of Diets With Different Levels of Energy on Fattening Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Konya Merino Lambs and Muttons

Authors : Yılmaz BAHTİYARCA, Ahmet Hamdi AKTAŞ, Yusuf CUFADAR

Pages : 19-25

View : 16 | Download : 35

Publication Date : 2002-06-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of diets having different levels of energy on fattening perfor-mance and carcass traits of male Konya Merino lambs and muttons. In the first trial, 18 Konya Merino lambs at 2,5-3 months old an average body weight of 20 kg, and in the second trial 18 Konya Merino ram muttons, 8-9 months old and average body weight of 34 kg, were used. In both trials, animals were fed diets with izonitrogenic insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(crude protein levels for lamb and muttons were 15 % and 12.5 %, respectively); but, containing different levels of energy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2250, 2500 and 2700 kcal/kg ME as fed);. All lambs and muttons assigned at random to individual indoor pen and individually weighted and fed. Six pens were assigned to every treatment. First and second trials lasted 84 and 56 days, respective-ly. In the first trial, increasing dietary energy level increased final live weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(wt);, total and daily live weight gain, daily metabolizable energy intake, slaughter, hot and cold carcass wt, cold dressing percentage, omental wt, left side carcass wt, limb, point of the shoulder, neck, back-loin and chop wt insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P<0.01-P<0.05);, and but, feed conversion ratio and lean/fat ratio significantly decreased insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P<0.01);. Subcutaneous, intramuscular and total fat wt and proportions of them in the carcass, lean and bone wt, and back fat thickness were also significantly insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P<0.01- P<0.05); improved by diets with 2500 and 2700 kcal/kg ME. Dietary energy levels did not significantly alter the other traits. In the trial 2, dietary energy levels did not significantly affect the performance traits insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(except feed/gain ratio for first period, P<0.05);, and carcass piece wt and proportion of them in the carcass but, increasing dietary energy level generally improved weight gain and decreased feed/gain ratio. However, daily ME intake, subcutaneous, intramuscu-lar and total fat wt and proportion of them in the carcass and fat thickness were significantly increased insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P<0.05 to P<0.01); by diets with 2500 and 2700 kcal/kg ME and but, decreased lean ratio and lean/fat ratio insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P<0.05 to P<0.01);. Other traits were not significantly affected by any of the dietary treatments.
Keywords : Konya Merinosu, kuzu, toklu, enerji, besi performansı, karkas karakterleri