Evaluation of high energy diets and fattening regimes on performance, carcass characteristics and fat production of Yankasa rams for use as alternative thermal storage medium

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate high energy diets and fattening regimes on performance, fat production and carcass characteristics of Yankasa rams. Fifteen intact Yankasa rams with an average live weight of 42Kg and condition score three (3) were randomly allocated into three treatments in a completely randomized experimental design (CRD) replicated five times. The animals were divided into three treatment groups according to the length of the fattening period. The treatments were designated as teatments 1, 2 and 3 respectively for three, two and one month fattening period. Results indicated significant diffrence (P 0.05) in feed intake, water intake, average daly gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing weight, dressing %, subcutaneous, abdominal and total fat production. It was concluded that fattening regime has no significant effect on the performance of Yankasa rams fed high energy diets.