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Effect of levels of concentrate supplement on live weight gain and carcass characteristics in sheep on restricted grazing |
M. A. R. Mazumder, M. M. Hossain, S. Akter |
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Abstract |
Sixteen local sheep (8 male + 8 female) of about six months old with average live weight 10.78 ( 1.11) kg were allocated into four treatments. The treatments (T) are : T0 = Restricted grazing without concentrate; T1, T2 and T3 = Grazing + 100, 200 and 300 g concentrate per sheep daily. Live weight of grazing (7.30 hrs daily) sheep was recorded in each week. The uncastrated male sheep were slaughtered for carcass and non-carcass parameters. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in live weight gain (g/day) among the treatments (T0 = 15.71; T1 = 22.66; T2 = 32.66 and T3 = 40.47). The dressing % were : (T0 = 32.75, T1 = 38.50, T2 = 36.90 and T3 = 37.75). The warm carcass weight represented 37.21% of live weight. Significant (p < 0.01) correlation were observed for live weight with carcass weight (r = 0.99) and dressing % (r = 0.88). Concentrate supplement increase live weight gain in sheep on grazing. Live weight is a good indicator to assess carcass characteristics. |
Keywords:
Concentrate; Live Weight; Carcass; Grazing; Sheep |
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