Effect of fababean (Vicia faba L.) feeding on dressing yield and carcass quality of crossbred sheep

A feeding trial was conducted using fababean (Vicia faba L.) based ration f or one year duration on eighteen crossbred sheep divided into three differe nt groups containing six in each group to see its effect on different carca ss characteristics. The control group (T-1-0) was fed on conventional conce ntrate mixture, while the treated groups (T-2-25 and T-3-100) were fed on t he concentrate mixture in which protein replacement was done by fababean at 25 and 100% levels, respectively. On slaughtering the above three groups o f sheep at 18 months it was observed that dressing percentage was 1.67% hig her in T-3-100 batch. The percent pluck or race was more in T-2-25 group an d that of rumen content was more in T-1-0. The carcass length did not incre ase in direct proportion to the increase in live weight, while the leg leng th was in increasing order of (T-1-0)< (T-2-25)< (T-3-100). The width of gi got as % of leg length, was more in control as compared to the treated grou ps. Loin eye area at 13th rib level was highest in the T-3-100 carcasses. I t was concluded that feeding of fababean to replace protein level in the co ncentrate mixture had no adverse effect in the carcass characteristics and dressing percentage of sheep carcasses, even upto 100% level.