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Effects of Growth Rate and Compensatory Growth on Body Composition in Lambs^1,2,

University of Nebraska^,6, Lincoln 68583-0908 and U.S. Department of Agriculture^,5, Clay Center, NE 68933

Abstract

Fifty lambs were used in a comparative slaughter experiment to determine the effects of growth rates and compensatory growth on body composition. The study consisted of a growing and a finishing phase. During the growing phase, lambs (20 to 30 kg) were fed three different concentrate levels (30, 50 or 70%) to gain at three different rates (slow, medium and rapid). The finishing phase was evaluated in two periods (early, 30 to 38 kg; late, 38 to 45 kg). All lambs received 70% concentrate diets during the finishing phase. Groups of five lambs were sacrificed at 20, 30, 38 and 45 kg fleece-free weights for whole-body chemical analysis. At 30 kg live weight, lambs on a rapid growth diet were the fattest (P<.01) and contained the least protein (P<.05) in their empty bodies. The slower the lambs gained during the growing phase, the greater (P<.05) was the response in rate of gain and feed efficiency during both periods of the finishing phase. Compensatory growth occurred in two stages; a greater proportion of protein gain was made early while a greater proportion of the fat gain was made during the late period of the finishing phase.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 7849, Journal Ser., Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.

² The authors gratefully acknowledge Jim Lamkey and Dr. R. W. Mandigo (Univ. of Nebraska) for their aid and assistance in slaughtering the experimental animals.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci. To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

⁴ Current address: Texas Tech Univ., Dept. of Anim. Sci., Lubbock, TX 79409.

⁵ U.S. Meat Anim. Res. Center, Clay Center, NE 68933.

⁶ Dept. of Anim. Sci.