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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 64(1)

Age at weaning of lambs raised in an intensive production system

Terezinha T. de Souza A , Ana C. S. Vicente https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3185-6656 A , Marcos V. C. Ferraz Junior B , Rhaíssa G. de Assis A , Thamires U. Sturion A , Matheus S. P. Carlis https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2641-5987 A , Ancelmo R. Cunha B , Taylon A. S. da Silva B , Daniel M. Polizel A C , Jamile H. Comelli A , Janaina S. Biava A , Alexandre V. Pires A C and Evandro M. Ferreira https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1057-5508 A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture ‘Luiz de Queiroz’, University of São Paulo, Pádua Dias Avenue, n 11, PO Box 09, Piracicaba, São Paulo 13418-900, Brazil.

B Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Amazonas, General Rodrigo Octávio Avenue, n 6200, Parintins, Amazonas 69152-240, Brazil.

C Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Duque de Caxias North Avenue, n 225, Pirassununga, São Paulo 13635-000, Brazil.

* Correspondence to: evandro.ferreira@usp.br

Handling Editor: Roger Purchas

Animal Production Science 64, AN23213 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23213
Submitted: 17 April 2023  Accepted: 12 October 2023  Published: 31 October 2023

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Early weaning is an alternative that may shorten the production time, and improve growth, and carcass quality.

Aims

The effects of different weaning ages on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Dorper × Santa Inês lambs were evaluated.

Methods

Initially, 33 crossbred lactating ewes Dorper × Santa Inês with initial bodyweight (BW) of 53.16 ± 9.17 kg (mean ± s.d.) were penned individually with their lambs (nine females and 36 males; 6.59 ± 0.30 kg of initial BW and 10 ± 2.22 days of age) 10 days after birth and used in a randomised complete block design (three treatments and 11 blocks). Each pen was individually equipped with a creep feed system for the lambs. The lambs received the initial diet, and the ewes were confined and received a diet with 400 g/kg of roughage and 600 g/kg of concentrate. Lambs were weaned at ages of either 45 days (W45), 60 days (W60) or 75 days (W75). At weaning, the ewes were removed from the pens and the lambs remained in the same pen for 15 days, receiving the initial diet. After 15 days of weaning, only the males continued received the finishing diet until 165 days of life. After the finishing period, the lambs were slaughtered to measure the carcass characteristics.

Key results

There was no influence of weaning age on BW, body condition score, dry-matter intake, and milk production and composition of ewes. Additionally, there was no effect of treatments on the lambs‘ performance.

Conclusion

In an intensive production system, weaning at 45, 60, and 75 days provided similar growth performance and carcass characteristics.

Implications

Therefore, weaning at 45 days may be an option for farmers.

Keywords: carcass, confinement, creep-feeding, different weaning ages, growth, high concentrate, lambs, performance.

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