JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

The objectives of this study include the determination of the growth potential of Naeini lambs when fed with diets varying in energy and protein concentrations and also an investigation of the influence of level of energy and/or protein intake on carcass characteristics and composition. Ninety Naeini weather lambs (initial live weight 29.89 ± 2.9 kg) were used in a 92-day feeding experiment. Animals were blocked to each of nine dietary treatments. Diets contained either 2, 2.25 or 2.5 Mcal ME/Kg DM and 11.7, 13.2 or 14.7% CP diets were fed in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement in randomized complete blocks.

Lambs fed with high energy diets consumed significantly more feed (P<0.05) than lambs given the medium (ME) or low energy (LE) diets. The average final body weight and daily weight gain for lambs fed with HE, ME and LE diets were 41.4, 38.3, 34.5 Kg and 162, 124, 74 g/d, respectively, which were significantly different (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio in HE group was significantly lower (8.3) than ME (10.4) or LE (14.3) groups. Energetic efficiencies and protein efficiencies were better for HE than for ME and LE diets. Increasing dietary energy significantly (P<0.05) improved energy and protein efficiencies of the diets. Dressing percentage, lean meat and eye muscle depth were significantly (P<0.05) improved with increasing levels of energy in the diet, but also increased dissectible fat. No significant changes were observed in bone percentage and body ash due to any changes in dietary energy. As the protein level of rations increased, feed conversion ratio and carcass meat percentage increased, but carcass protein percentage decreased.