Productive performance and carcass characteristics of lambs grazing on pastures of two cultivars of buffel grass and three forage allowance

SUMMARY

The objective of this present trial was to evaluate the forage intake, productive performance of lambs (average daily gain, total weight gain and final body weight), the carcass characteristics (hot carcass weight and hot carcass dressing), besides stocking rate and weight gain by area of buffel grass pastures (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) grazing by lambs. This trial was carried out during September 2009 to Ausgust 2010, using continuos stocking. The treatments were combinations of two cultivars of buffel grass (Biloela and Cpatsa 7754) and three forage allowance (4, 8 and 12 kg of dry matter/100 kg of body weight or 4, 8 and 12%) in 3 x 2 factorial arrangement and completely randomized blocks with three replicates. The variables related to forage intake, produtive performance, carcass characteristics, stocking rate and weight gain by area did not affect by cultivars, forage allowance and interation between cultivars and forage allowance. The lambs presented 452,14 g/animal/day of dry matter intake, 59,77 g/animal/day of average daily gain, 41,51 % of hot carcass dressing, while buffel grass pastures had 11,78 lambs/ha and promoted 205,64 kg/ha/year of weight gain.

sheep breeding; graze; semiarid