Productive performance, body condition score and carcass characteristics of Deccani lambs reared under different farming systems

The present study was carried out to assess the effect of different farming systems on productive performance, body condition score and carcass characteristics of Deccani lambs. Thirty-six weaned lambs having 3 months of age were divided into three groups with twelve lambs in each group in under intensive (T₁), semi-intensive (T₂) and extensive (T₃) farming systems. The comparative mean dry matter intake (kg/day) and (kg/100kg BW) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T₁ group when compared toother groups. T₂ group had significantly(p<0.05) higher DM intake (kg/day) than T₃ group. The mean values of Average daily gains in Deccani lambs were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T₁ group compared to T₂ and T₃groups. Thefeed efficiencywassignificantly(p < 0.05) higher in T₁ compared to T₂, T₃groups. Statisticallysignificant difference was found in BCS at six months of age (p<0.05) between T₁ and T₃ groups. BCS at 9, 12 months and overall BCS, there was a significant (p<0.05) difference between T₁ and T₃ groups. T₁ group had higher pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, meat %, fat% and meat: bone ratio than T₂ and T₃. The dressing yields were comparable. The weights of other offals (heart, kidney, spleen, testicles, blood, head and lung and trachea) were comparable. The findings of this study indicated that the intensive and semi-intensive system of rearing could be useful for mutton production. In extensive system, which is predominant in India should change its facet by enriching the grazing land resources as well by the supplementation of required plane of nutrition during growth and special life stages viz., gestation, puberty, post lambing and finisher stages for achieving optimum productivity.