A note on the effect of time of weaning and weight at slaughter on feed utilization of intensively fed lambs

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Fifty-four Suffolk × North Country Cheviot lambs were weaned at either 25, 33 or 41 days of age and slaughtered at either 35, 45 or 55 kg live weight.Increasing the age at weaning reduced the growth check, increased creep feed consumption and decreased food required for fattening. For each kg increase in weight at slaughter there was an increase of 0·035 kg in dry matter required per kg gain. The female lambs had lower growth rates, lower efficiency of food utilization and a higher killing-out percentage than male lambs.For the most efficient utilization of food, lambs should be weaned at about 33 days of age.