EFFECT OF WINTER SHEARING AND LEVEL OF ENERGY AND PROTEIN ON GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS IN AWASSI LAMBS

Abstract

48 Awassi lambs, 7-8 months old, 34.30 ± 0.75 kg average weight,were used to study the effect of winter shearing and level of energy and protein on growth and carcass quality of Awassi lambs. The animals were divided randomly into four different groups,each group contained 6 animals .The lambs were offered concentrate diets at a rate of 2% of live body weight consisted of high energy and protein (group1),low energy and high protein(group2), high energy and low protein (group3),low energy and low protein (group4).Each group of concentrate diet was divided into two sub group of shorn and unshorn lambs. Fresh alfalfa was offered ad libitum, and the experiment lasted for 3 months. Average daily gains were 199.68 and 162.00gm /lamb /day for shorn and unshorn lambs (group1),178.00and 169.33gm /lamb /day for shorn and unshorn lambs (group2) , and 172.17 and 135.17 gm /lamb /day and 172.17 and 174.00 gm /lamb /day for shorn and unshorn lambs (group3 and 4 respectively). Hot carcass weights (27.025 and 27.300 kg), (25.825 and 25.925kg), (28.800 and 27.750 kg) and (28.300 and26.975kg)for shorn and unshorn lambs for groups1,2,3and4 respectively. This indicates that shearing in winter did not significantly affect growth and carcass weights beside of the economical utilization of wool product in winter.