Effect of level of inclusion of lablab meal in diet on carcass characteristics of blackhead persian sheep

Abstract

Twenty four Black Head Persian (BHP) castrate lambs weighing 14.1 ± 2.7 kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments. Animals on treatment A (control) were fed Rhodes (Chloris gayana) hay, ad libitum as basal diet, plus 380-g maize bran daily. Animals on treatments B, C and D were fed basal diet plus 380 g of "maize bran and lablab meal" mixture at a ratio of 2.8:1, 0.9:1 and 0.27:1, respectively daily. Four animals from each treatment were selected for slaughter at the end of 99th day of feeding. The level of inclusion of lablab in the lambs diet had no significant effect on all killing-out characteristics. However, the increase in dietary lablab level in supplement increased the hot carcass weight (HCW) and empty body weight (EBW). The mean HCW for treatments A, B, C, and D were 8.0, 8.8, 9.2 and 9. 7 kg, respectively, while the respective mean EBWs were 15.3, 16.9, 17.8 and 18.2 kg. Dressing percentage showed no definite pattern. Regression of HCW on EBW and on slaughter weight showed high correlation coefficients (r = 0.91 and r = 0.90, respectively). Lean tissue weight increased with increasing lablab level in the supplement diet, while fat tissue decreased with increased dietary lablab levels (P < 0.10). Differences among treatments in carcass fat were however small and statistically non-significant. Although bone tissue did not show any defined trend, animals on treatment C had heavier (830 vs 716 g) carcass bone than animals on treatment A (P< 0.10). Expressed as percentages of the carcass, the weights of lean, fat and bone showed no significant treatment effects. However, the trend was an increase in percentage of lean tissue and a decrease in percentage of fat tissue with increasing level of lablab in the supplement diet (60.9,51.3, 61.1 and 63% lean and 19.1,20.2, 18.4 and 17.5% fat, for treatments A, B, C and D, respectively).

Keywords: Lablab meal, sheep, killing out characteristics, carcass composition

Tanzania J. Agric. Sc. (1998) Vol. I No. 2, 149-156