Efficiency of food conversion and body composition of the preruminant lamb and the young pig

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Abstract
1. A comparison was made of the efficiency of food conversion and body composition of the preruminant lamb and young pig when offered cow's milk supplemented with minerals and vitamins from 2 to 10 weeks of age. 2. The daily voluntary intake of gross energy/kg live weight0·75 of the pigs was significantly greater than that of the lambs. The daily voluntary intake of the lambs decreased from 1895 to 1573 kJ/kg live weight0·75 (453 to 376 kcal/kg0·75) over the experimental period and that for the pigs increased from 2063 to 2519 kJ/kg live weight0·75 (493 to 602 kcal/kg0·75). 3. Of the organic matter of the milk, 0·97–0·98 was digested by both species. Food conversion ratio (kg dry matter milk/kg live-weight gain) did not differ between the species when food was given ad lib. but pigs restricted to 80% of voluntary food intake or to 1255 kJ/kg live weight0·75 (300 kcal/kg0·75) had a lower food conversion ratio than lambs similarly restricted in intake. 4. A 20% reduction in the voluntary intake of gross energy decreased daily protein deposition in the lambs only but decreased daily fat deposition in both species.