THE CHANGE OF BODY COMPOSITION OF INDIGENOUS RAMS ON DIFFERENT BODY WEIGHT AND FEEDING LEVEL

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of body weight and feeding level on the change of body composition of indigenous ram. This research was expected to establish the efficient feeding level to produce high growth rate and meat quality of ram in tropical environment. Sixteen rams with different body weight (BW) were divided into 2 groups, i.e. light BW (10 + 1.47 kg) and heavy BW (18 + 1.18 kg). The experimental design was Split Plot design with two factors. The main plot was body weight (light and heavy) and the sub plot was level of feeding (FL, 1x maintenance and 1.5 x maintenance). The parameters measured in this experiment were live weight gain and body composition. The results of this study showed that body water, body protein and body fat were significantly higher (P<0.01) in heavy body weight (HBW) than those in light body weight (LBW), and was higher in 1.5xM than those 1xM. Ram of HW and LW had similar change rate of physical composition. Ram given 1.5xM had higher rate of change of body fat and body water than those given feed at maintenance level. It can be concluded that there was no interaction between BW and FL on the change of body water, body protein and body fat. Ram of HBW and LBW had similar rate of change of physical composition. Level of feeding affected body water content, the higher level of feeding resulted in fatter ram, leading to less body water content. Keywords: Body Weight, Feeding Level, Maintenance, Body Composition