Comparison on fattening performance and carcass characteristics of Fars native lambs and kids

In two experimental groups، fattening performance and carcass characteristics of 24 Gray-Shirazi male lambs and 24 native male kids (with equal ages، six months old) were compared using completely randomize design. The rations were formulated according to the nutritional standard Tables. Fattening period was 100 days. At the end of fattening period، lambs and kids were slaughtered and their carcass characteristics were determined. Initial body weights for lambs and kids were 26. 1 and 20 kg (P<0. 01)، final body weights were 48. 2 and 30 kg (P<0. 01)، daily gains were 221 and 96 g (P<0. 01)، daily feed intake were 1501 and 852 g، feed conversion ratios were 6. 78 and 8. 87، respectively. Dressing percentages for lambs and kids were 50. 83 and 44. 76 (P<0. 01)، lean percentages were 61. 22 and 71. 38 (P<0. 01)، fat deposit percentages were 24. 03 and 4. 77 (P<0. 01) and bone percentages were 14. 75 and 23. 85 (P<0. 01)، respectively. Internal fat depots percentages for lambs and kids were 3. 4 and 3. 8 (P>0. 05)، respectively. Backfat thickness for lambs and kids were 6. 21 and 1. 55 mm (P<0. 01) and LD muscle area were 13. 58 and 7. 82 cm2 (P<0. 01)، respectively. Lambs had high daily feed intake، daily gains and better feed conversion efficiency in comparison to kids. Lambs yielded carcass with greater dressing percentage than that of kids. Lambs deposited more fat in the carcass while kids deposited more lean in the carcass. There was better efficiency in economic aspects for fattening of lambs than of kids، but kid’s meat had better quality because of more lean and lower fat deposit.