Growth and development of sheep

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Abstract
The growth of the hot carcass and some non-carcass components of 212 rams and ewes of the Romney and Southdown breeds and their cross was obtained from a comparative slaughter trial. Samples were slaughtered at birth, at 1, 6, 11, 16, 25, 41, and 80 weeks of age, and at maturity. Allometric growth coefficients are presented relating component weight to starved body weight together with estimates of component weights for the different breeds and sexes at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 55 kg live weight. The growth of the fat depots and the stomach (excluding the abomasum) was markedly faster than that of the starved body weight, and the growth of most of the reproductive tract was moderately faster. The remaining body parts grew at rates similar to, or slower than, starved body weight.