Carcass, liver and kidney characteristics of lambs grazing plantain (Plantago lanceolata), chicory (Cichorium intybus), white clover (Trifolium repens) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

J. M. Deaker, M.J. Young, T.J. Fraser, J.S. Rowarth

AgResearch, Canterbury Agriculture and Science Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 1994, 54: 197-200

Plaintain (Plantago lanceolata L.) is being evaluated in New Zealand as a potential pasture species because of its supposed medicinal attributes. Seventy six, four month old Coopworth ram lambs were rotationally grazed on either plantain (PL), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.; CH), white clover (Trifolium repens L.; WC) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; RG) for 82 days from January to April, 1993 at an allowance averaging 1.8 kg green DM/lamb/day. At slaughter treatment differences in carcass weight were apparent (16.8, 18.3, 20.1 and 15.6kg, respectively, for PL, CH, WC and RG). After adjustment for body size no differences in carcass characteristics were apparent between treatments. However, differences still existed for liver and kidney size. WC lambs were the heaviest at slaughter and had the largest livers after adjustment. In contrast, kidney size did not follow liveweight with PL lambs having the largest kidneys after adjustment. Serum urea and creatinine levels indicate that renal function was not impaired in PL lambs relative to RG lambs.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; carcass composition; kidney; liver; sheep; growth; Plantago lanceolata; Cichorium intybus; Trifolium repens; Lolium perenne.

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Last Updated 25-01-1997