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Effects of indoor or outdoor rearing on the chemical composition of lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. Theriez
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Lactation et Elevage des Ruminants INRA — Theix, 63122 St Genes Champanelle, France
B. Touraine
Affiliation:
Ecole Nationale Superieure d‘Agronomie, 9 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex, France
P. Vigneron
Affiliation:
Ecole Nationale Superieure d‘Agronomie, 9 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex, France
M. Prud'hon
Affiliation:
Ecole Nationale Superieure d‘Agronomie, 9 Place Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex, France
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Abstract

Pure Merinos d'Aries male lambs were reared indoors (IN), with hay and concentrates, or outdoor (OUT) on improved Mediterranean range (Garrigues) and slaughtered when they reached 25 (light) or 32 (heavy) kg live weight. The alimentary tract weight was significantly affected by slaughter weight and by rearing method, which also significantly modified rumen contents. IN lamb body composition was higher in fat and energy and lower in water and protein than OUT lambs but differences induced by the rearing method were reduced when slaughter weight was increased. Allometric equations established for each environment were used to determine body composition and body gain composition at 20 and 25 kg empty body weight. Changes were very limited for IN lambs but protein and fat content of OUT lambs changed greatly as a result of the tremendous increase of grass availability towards the end of the fattening period.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1992

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