This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the body weight at the beginning of fattening on the growth rate and carcass characteristics of Suffolk male lambs. The period of fattening was 2 months from 8 months old. Nineteen male lambs were grouped into the following four groups of the body weight at beginning of the treatment; 1) 30kg, 2) 35kg, 3) 40kg, and 4) 45kg. To each group of 1), 2) and 3), five male lambs were allocated and four to the heaviest body weight group.
1. The heavier body weight at the beginnig of the treatment resulted in the lower growth rate. The average daily gain in each group was 155g, 142g, 128g and 115g for the 30kg, 35kg, 40kg and 45kg body weight group, respectively.
2. Increasing with the body weight at the beginning of the treatment, the body weight at the end of the treatment and the dressing percentage increased. The dressing percentage was 49.0%, 49.3%, 50.4% and 51.2% for the group of 30kg, 35kg, 40kg and 45kg, respectively.
3. Fat thickness tended to increase with increasing the body weight at the beginning of fattening.
4. Under the conditions of this experiment, the body weight of male lamb at the beginning of the fattening should be more than 35kg for the better carcass characteristics and the better carcass grading of lambs.
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