Correlation between Crude Protein Levels in the Diets and Carcass Weight and Carcass Percentage in Thin Tailed Lambs

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to know the correlation between crude protein levels in the diets and carcass weight and carcass percentage of thin tailed lambs fattened after weaning. This experiment used 12 thin tailed lambs, aged approximately 3 months with body weight ranged at 12.9-18.61 kg. Feeding given was arranged to allow 12, 14 and 16% crude protein and TDN at 60% using the following feeds ingredients such as rice bran, cassava peel, sugar cane top, cassava flour, soybean meal, fish meal, molasses and minerals. The lambs were slaughtered after 3 month feeding treatment. Carcass from slaughtered animal was weighed to obtain carcass weight and percentage to slaughter weight. The data obtained was analyzed using correlation analysis. Slaughtered weight was found ranged at 19.62-29.89 kg resulted carcass weight at 8.23-14.13 kg or equal to 41.94-49.56% carcass percentage. The correlation between crude protein levels in the diets with carcass weight and carcass percentage of thin tailed lambs were weak, being 0.22 and 0.32, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that crude protein levels in the diets was positive and weak correlated to the carcass weight and carcass percentage in thin tailed lambs fattened after weaning.