The growth of Clun and Southdown sheep: body composition and the partitioning of total body fat

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe growth of Southdown and Clun lambs was studied over the period birth to 415 days of age.At birth, 50, 100, 150 and 200 days of age five lambs of each breed, and at 415 days three lambs of each breed, were slaughtered and their body composition determined by dissection.The relative growth of lean, bone and total body fat was not influenced by breed. At each age both Cluns and Southdowns had similar proportions of total body fat, and were considered to be at the same stage of maturity.There was a breed difference in fat partitioning, with the Clun depositing proportionately more of its total body fat intra-abdominally, compared with the Southdown. However, there was no significant effect of breed on the growth of individual fat depots relative to total fat. From earliest to latest the order of maturity was pericardial, intermuscular, perirenal-retroperitoneal, mesenteric, subcutaneous and lastly, omental fat.