Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T02:09:54.862Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effect of docking and shearing on growth and carcass traits of fat-tailed Ossimi sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

I. F. M. Marai ,
M. S. Nowar ,
Layla B. Bahgat  and
J. B. Owen
I. F. M. Marai
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt
M. S. Nowar
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt
Layla B. Bahgat
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt
J. B. Owen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Thirty Ossimi lambs were used in an experiment to compare those whose tail was docked shortly after birth with controls. After weaning at 4 months of age the groups were further subdivided and two of the four groups closely shorn according to a 2 × 2 factorial design.

Male lambs at 20 kg were subjected to intensive finishing until the age of 50 weeks and nine were then slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics.

There was a trend for increased live-weight gain in the docked lambs in the preweaning stage (up to 16 weeks).

This trend was also present, although not statistically significant, in the final phase of intensive feeding from 20 kg weight to 50 weeks. Shearing significantly improved daily gain in this final period (P < 0·05). These increases in gain were also apparently associated with improvements in efficiency, as judged on a group basis.

Docking and shearing also tended to cause increases in body measurements: height, chest girth and abdomen girth in the case of docking (P < 0·05) and chest girth, chest depth and abdomen girth in the case of shearing (P < 0–05).

Carcass characteristics, measured on a relatively small sample, indicated several effects of docking and shearing on carcass traits although most of these were consistent with the expected differences stemming from the higher carcass weights acheived at 50 weeks of age by docked and sheared lambs.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 109 , Issue 3 , December 1987 , pp. 513 - 518
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Asker, A. A.El-Khalsy, I. G. & Juma, K. H. (1964). Effect of docking on growth and development of Awassi lambs. U.A.R. Animal Production 4, 11–26.Google Scholar
Diggins, R. V. & Bundy, C. E. (1958). Sheep Production. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., U.S.A.: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
El-Karim, A. I. A. (1980). Effect of docking on growth and carcass characteristics of Dubasi Desert sheep. Tropical Animal Production 5, 15–17.Google Scholar
Epstein, H. (1961). The development and composition of docked and undocked fat-tailed Awassi lambs. Empire Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29, 110–118.Google Scholar
Field, R. A., Kemp, J. D. & Verney, W. Y. (1963). Indices for lambs carcass composition. Journal of Animal Science 22, 18–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joubert, D. M. & Uckermann, L. (1971). A note on the effects of docking on fat deposition in fat-tailed sheep. Animal Production 13, 191–192.Google Scholar
Juma, K. H., Karam, H. A., Al-Maali, H. N. A. & Al-Barazanji, J. (1974). Effect of docking in Awassi sheep. Indian Journal of Animal Science 43, 931–935.Google Scholar
Mokhtar, M. M. (1974). Effect of the length of fattening period on gain and carcass traits in sheep. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain-Shams University, Cairo.Google Scholar
O'Donovan, P. B., Ghadaki, M. B., Behesti, R. D., Saleh, B. A. & Rollinson, D. H. L. (1973). Performance and carcass composition of docked and control fat-tailed Kellakui lambs. Animal Production 16 (16), 67–76.Google Scholar
Qureshi, M. J. (1968). Influence of docking fat-tailed lambs on fat deposition. Agriculture of Pakistan 19, 97–100.Google Scholar
Sefidbakht, N. & Ghorban, K. (1972). Change arising from docking of fat-tailed sheep in feedlot performance. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Research 1 (2), 72–77.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. & Cochran, W. G. (1972). Statistical Methods, 6th edn.Ames, Iowa, U.S.A.: Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar