Little scientific documentation is available that evaluates maximum levels of dried distiller grain with solubles (DDGS) in lamb-finishing rations. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of feeding increasing levels of DDGS in lamb-finishing rations on lamb performance and carcass characteristics. Two-hundred forty Western, white-faced Rambouillet wether and ewe lambs (31.7 ±...

Lamb meat is often perceived by consumers as fatty, and consumption has decreased in recent decades. A lean growth index was developed in the UK for terminal sire breeds to increase carcass lean content and constrain fat content at a constant age end point. The purposes of this study were 1) to evaluate the effects of index selection of terminal sires on their crossbred offspring at finishing a...

The effects of photoperiod (8 hr light: 16 hr dark [8L:16D] or 16L:8D) on performance of growing-finishing lambs were evaluated in an experiment with 24 rams and 24 wethers. All lambs were caged in groups of two in a controlled environment and fed a pelleted diet ad libitum for the duration of the study (10 to 22 weeks of age). Performance and carcass data showed that both photoperiod and sex o...

Genotype effects on lamb growth, survival, and commercial finishing were estimated in a 5-yr study aimed at assessing potential benefits from introducing meat breeds into extensive sheep systems of northeastern Patagonia. Five ram [Corriedale: CO; Border Leicester: BL; Ile de France: IF; Texel: TX; and synthetic CRIII (25% Merino, 37.5% IF, 37.5% TX)] and 5 dam (CO; synthetic CRIII; BLCO: BL x ...

Limited data are available regarding the influence of thiamine supplementation on the incidence of polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in lambs fed diets containing increased concentrations of S in the diet (>0.7%). Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the influence of thiamine supplementation on feedlot performance, carcass quality, ruminal hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations, and incidence of PEM...

The influence of medium-chain fatty acids (5% coconut oil) introduced in a starter diet (ALc) for 21 d after weaning was investigated in 230 Lacaune male lambs. They were weaned early, intensively fattened during winter and slaughtered at a constant live-weight (39 kg). Comparisons have been made regarding the individual growth rates and carcass qualities with an isocaloric and isonitrogenous r...