The chemical composition of the intensively fed lamb

ABSTRACT Intact male lambs from Limousin and Charmoise breeds, or crossbreds from F1 (Romanov × Limousin) ewes sired by Berrichon rams, were early weaned, intensively fed, and slaughtered between 20 and 40 kg of empty body weight. The whole carcass was chemically analyzed, and the results expressed on a shorn, empty body-weight basis. Some between breed differences in the weight of fat and gross energy content were found: fat contents ranged from 179 to 212g/kg at 30 kg of empty body weight. The corresponding range for energy was 10·8 to 11·8MJ/kg of empty body weight. Differences between protein and ash contents were limited, from 154 to 165g/kg empty body weight, and from 31 to 33g/kg empty body weight respectively. At the same empty body weight Charmois lambs (a small sized breed) contained more fat, less water and less protein than the crossbreds. Values obtained on the Limousin lambs were intermediate. There was no evidence of diet or growth rate effect on chemical composition when compared with published data obtained from more conventionally fed lambs.