Thirty-two intact lambs averaging 17.1 kg of initial body weight were assigned to one of the following four treatments: 30, 45, 60 or 75% of dietary concentrate in a completely randomized design (eight lambs/treatment). Lambs were feedlot fed during the experimental period (43 days). After slaughter, carcasses were refrigerated for 24 h. It was measured the weights and percentages of five cuts from the half carcass as well as the proportion of muscle, bone and fat tissue from the leg. The weights of neck, shoulder, ribs, loin and leg all increased linearly by increasing the level of concentrate in the diet while the opposite was observed for the yields of neck, leg, and shoulder; yield of ribs followed the increment of concentrate in the diet and increased linearly. Fat thickness and loin eye area were both affected by the level of concentrate in the diet. The same was observed for the non-carcass components with the exception of digestive tract. Feeding increasing dietary levels of concentrate to lambs affected the weight and yield of retail cuts and internal organs and increased the proportion and deposition of fat in the carcass.
diet; fat; organs; weight; yield
