Livestock Studies 2001, Vol 41, Num, 1     (Pages: 059-066)

Fattening Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Chios X Kıvırcık Crossbred (F1) Male Lambs

Mustafa OĞAN 1

1 Uludağ Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Zootekni Anabilim Dalı- BURSA - This study was carried out to investigate the fattening performance and carcass characteristics of Chios X Kıvırcık male lambs F1. Seventy-three crossbred lambs at the age of 4-6 months were used in this study. The lambs were fed with alfalfa hay and concentrates ad libitum.

The lambs were taken to fattening at average a live weight of 28.22 kg and were fed until they reached 43.85 kg of live weight. The average fattening period was 58.23 days. Average daily gain and concentrate intake drymatter for 1 kg of live weight gain during the fattening period were found to be 276.4 g and 5.63 kg, respectively.

At the end of the fattening period, some of the slaughter and carcass characteristics of the lambs were determined as follows: Slaughter weight was 44.8 kg; warm carcass weight was 23.14 kg; cold carcass weight was 22.44; dressing percentage (cold) was 50.09 % and total of kidney and pelvic fat was 0.33 kg. The ratios of leg weight, forearm weight, loin weight and back weight in the carcass were found to be 31.13 %, 17.81 %, 7.16 % and 8.12 %, respectively. Eye-muscle area and fat thickness were determined to be 14.50 cm2 and 0.39 cm, respectively. Keywords : Chios, Kıvırcık, Crossbreeding, Lamb, Fattening Performance, Carcass Characteristics