Carcass composition of Polish Lowland and Polish Merino lambs fed diets containing different protein levels

The effect of the protein content in the diet on the tissue composition of 90 male Polish Lowland lambs fed diets containing from 13 to 18% crude prot ein in DM during the fattening period and on 44 carcasses of male Polish Me rino lambs fed diets containing from 11 to 19% protein in DM was studied. T he energy value of the diets was similar. The lambs were fattened from wean ing at the age of 70-90 days to reaching a slaughter weight of 35-40 kg (Po lish Merino) or 35-45 kg (Polish Lowland). The Lowland lambs that received less protein in diets had somewhat lower le an content and higher fat content in the carcass than the lambs that were f ed diets with a higher protein level. No significant differences were found in the carcass composition of Merino lambs. The tissue composition of the carcasses depended more on the slaughter weight of the lambs and the relate d carcass weight than on the protein level in the diet.