Compensatory growth in lambs undernourished from birth
J.M. Oldham, A.H. Kirton and J.J. Bass
Growth and Meat Science, AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre,
Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1999, 59: 111-113
There is evidence to suggest that lambs on restricted nutrition
from birth fail to show compensatory growth. In this indoor trial, lambs
were allocated to one of three treatments and fed on lamb milk formula,
then sheep pellets. Lambs were started on high (H) or low (L) rates of
intake from 3 days of age. Groups of L lambs were subsequently placed on
H intakes (low-high; L-H) at 2, 4 and 8 months of age and killed at 4, 8
and 15 months of age respectively. At 15 months H lambs weighed 86.2 kg
and L lambs 28.6 kg. The growth rates of L-H ranged between 224 and 242
g/d during compensatory growth. The H lambs averaged 186 and L lambs 50
g/d during the experiment. At slaughter, there was no difference between
H and L-H lambs for hot carcass weight when adjusted for final live
weight, and little change in the weight and length of M. semitendinosus.
Hind limb dissection also demonstrated no effect of nutritional
treatment on proportions of muscle, bone and fat in H and L-H lambs.
These
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
lamb; compensatory growth; carcass; live weight; muscle; fat;
bone.
Last Updated 06-08-1999
