Leanness of young sheep that lost weight after shearing

A.R. Bray, A.G. Taylor, R.N. Burton and R.A. Moss

Winchmore Irrigation Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ashburton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1988, 48: 37-40

Shearing immediately followed by underfeeding reduced carcass fatness in sheep aged 10 to 14 months. When compared with woolly, growing sheep at the same weight a combination of shearing and mild underfeeding lowered GR measurements by 1.5 to 6.3mm in 3 experiments. Although this practice is 1 of only a few management procedures that have been shown to consistently lower GR measurements at a given carcass weight it is not recommended as a routine production practice because of potential effects on animal health and welfare and meat quality.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Lamb; carcass weight; leanness; shearing; nutrition

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Last Updated 18-03-1997