Carcass characteristics of intensively fed finisher lambs maintained on varying plane of nutrition in pre-weaning phase

The impact of pre weaning plane of nutrition (high, GI; medium, G2; low, G3 ) on post-weaning growth and carcass characteristics of finisher lambs was evaluated. The weaning weights were 14.3, 13.0 and 14.8 kg in GI, G2 and G3 , respectively, while the finishing weight was higher (P < 0.01) in the G3 (24.8 kg), maintained on low plane of nutrition in pre weaning phase, than G1 (21.9 kg) or G2 (21.0 kg). The pre slaughter weight, empty live weight, hot carcass weight with kidney and kidney fat and hot carcass weight with e dible offal were higher (P <0.01) in G I and G3 than G2 lambs. The dressing percentage on pre slaughter was higher in GI and G3 than G2 while dressing yield in terms of empty live weight was similar in the 3 groups. Total ine dible and edible offal weights were lower in G2 than G I and G3, whereas in terms of empty live weight, the yields were similar in the 3 groups. Disse cted lean, fat and bone content of the half carcass were similar in the 3 g roups. The per cent distribution of the primal cuts in half carcass, viz. l eg, loin, rack, neck and shoulder and breast and fore shank were also simil ar, G3 iambs deposited more depot fat, particularly as kidney fat than othe r 2 groups. It is concluded that the lambs maintained on low plane of nutrition in pre- weaning phase showed compensatory growth improvement in post- weaning stag e under intensive feeding and deposited more carcass and depot fat.