Effect of 1 and 2 days' ante-mortem fasting on live weight and carcass losses in lambs

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Abstract
Four groups, each of 25 lambs, were used to compare the effects of fasting on live-weight and carcass losses. The treatments comprised a control group slaughtered straight off pasture, groups fasted for 24 or 48 hours with access to drinking water, and a fourth group fasted for 48 hours without access to water. Forty-eight hours' fasting resulted in a loss of 4 kg live weight and 0.57 kg carcass weight (mainly water). No carcass loss was shown as a result of the first 24 hours' fasting. The conclusion was reached that the initial rate of live-weight loss and the time at which carcass losses start are influenced by the level of gastrointestinal “fill” at the beginning of the experiment. Most of the emptying of the digestive tract occurred during the first 24 hours of fasting and, with the exception of the lungs, the internal organ losses were greatest over this period. There were no differences between treatments in the palatability of the meat The availability of drinking water had no effect on any of the fasting losses observed in the present experiment. Implications for the New Zealand meat industry are discussed.