Effect of whole and rolled corn or barley on growth and carcass quality oflambs

Lambs were assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial design with corn or barley fed eit her whole or rolled. Hay was fed for ad libitum intake while concentrates w ere fed in similar amounts. Dry matter intake of hay, ADG, the gain:feed ra tio, and warm carcass weight (WCW) were higher (P < 0.05) for lambs fed cor n than for those fed barley. Cereal processing had no effect (P > 0.05) on hay dry matter intake, ADG, the gain:feed ratio, and WCW. Time of fattening (23-46 kg) was similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. Carcass characteristic s generally were similar among treatments. Corn was more beneficial than ba rley to increase the ADG and carcass weight. Crown Copyright (C) 2000 Publi shed by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.