J. Anim Sci.
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Journal of Animal Science, Vol 72, Issue 12 3230-3237, Copyright © 1994 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Performance and carcass characteristics of weaned lambs either grazed on orchardgrass, ryegrass, or alfalfa or fed all-concentrate diets in drylot

K. E. McClure, R. W. Van Keuren and P. G. Althouse
Department of Animal Science, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Ohio State University, Wooster 44691.

Four-paddock rotational grazing of orchardgrass, ryegrass, or alfalfa was compared to an all-concentrate diet fed in drylot using 202 weaned lambs. Comparisons of animal performance ended in each of the 3 yr (1983, 1984, 1985) for all animals when drylot lambs reached a subjective body condition score of 12 (range 1 to 15) and estimated fat depth over the rib was 5.5 to 7.0 mm. A total of 84 representative lambs were slaughtered over the 3 yr for carcass evaluation. Mature put-and-take ewes were used to maintain forages in the vegetative stage. Average daily gain and total gain of lambs were in the order of drylot > alfalfa > grasses; performance of lambs grazing alfalfa approached performance of those fed the drylot diet. Better performance (P < .01) of lambs grazing alfalfa than of those grazing grasses is atributed to more CP (P < .01) and less NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose (P < .01) in alfalfa. Lambs grazed on grasses had smaller carcasses with less muscle, fat, and bone (P < .01) than either of the other two treatments. Although carcasses of lambs grazed on alfalfa were lighter, they had the same muscle mass as concentrate-fed lambs, indicated by leg conformation, longissimus muscle area, and by physically separated absolute muscle weight. However, these carcasses contained less fat (P < .01) and had more desirable yield grades (P < .01) than the carcasses of concentrate-fed lambs.


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R. J. Borton, S. C. Loerch, K. E. McClure, and D. M. Wulf
Characteristics of lambs fed concentrates or grazed on ryegrass to traditional or heavy slaughter weights. II. Wholesale cuts and tissue accretion
J Anim Sci, June 1, 2005; 83(6): 1345 - 1352.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
R. J. Borton, S. C. Loerch, K. E. McClure, and D. M. Wulf
Comparison of characteristics of lambs fed concentrate or grazed on ryegrass to traditional or heavy slaughter weights. I. Production, carcass, and organoleptic characteristics
J Anim Sci, March 1, 2005; 83(3): 679 - 685.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 1994 by the American Society of Animal Science.