The effect of feeding system on fattening performance,slaughter, and carcass characteristics of Norduz male kids

The study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding systems on fattening performance, slaughter, and carcass characteristics of male Norduz kids. In the study, 20 male Norduz kids weaned at 2.5 months of age were divided into two groups after weaning. The first group was reared under semi-intensive conditions (SI) on a mixture of pasture and concentrate, and the second group was reared under extensive conditions (E) on pasture only. SI group had higher final weight (35.30 kg versus 32.81 kg), daily weight gain (153.10 g versus 132.14 g), and warm carcass yield (44.84% versus 46.55%) compared to the E group although there were no significant differences. Body organs, carcass parts, prime cuts, and chemical composition of the chop area did not also differ in two groups significantly. As a conclusion, this study showed that semi-intensive feeding systems improved kid fattening performance and carcass characteristics.     

Effects of ventilation of the sheep house on heat stress,growth and thyroid hormones of lambs

Twenty single male Assaf lambs were divided into two groups and housed in semi-open barns. Air temperature averaged 35°C. For 9 weeks after parturation, one group was cooled by fan between 1000 and 1600 hours and the other group was not cooled. Rectal and skin (head and testis) temperatures, respiration rate, and pulse rate were recorded twice daily. Lambs were weighed individually every week and levels of T3 and thyroxin were determined. Differences in rectal, head, and testis temperatures (P < 0.05) and respiration rates (P < 0.01) between the two groups were significant. Growth was affected positively by fan treatment, live weight increased by 15%, and cooled lambs had higher thyroxin levels.