Adipose Tissue Accumulation and Cellularity in Growing and Fattening Lambs

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Abstract
Forty cross-bred western wether lambs were divided into two equal groups. During a 150-day growth period, 20 lambs received a maintenance diet and 20 lambs were fed an adequate diet (ad libitum). Four lambs from each group were slaughtered after the growth period to assess initial carcass characteristics and composition, and adipocyte size and numbers. Remaining lambs from each growth phase group were then subdivided and fed finishing diets ad libitum containing two levels of protein. Lambs from each of the four finishing phase treatment groups were then slaughtered after 62 or 112 days finishing period to observe carcass characteristics and adipocyte size and numbers. Lambs fed ad libitum and slaughtered at the end of the growth phase produced carcasses with less percentage bone and muscle but greater percentage adipose tissue than carcasses from lambs fed at maintenance. During the finishing phase, percentage bone and muscle decreased and percentage adipose tissue increased in the carcasses of lambs from both growth phase nutritional regimens. Dietary protein treatment during finishing did not affect (P> .05) carcass composition. Copyright © 1974. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1974 by American Society of Animal Science.

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