Treatments
Variables T1 T2 T3 T4 SEM SL
Empty body weight (kg) 13b 16.8a 17a 17.2a 0.651 ***
Hot carcass weight (kg) 6.5b 8.5a 8.5a 8.5a 0.379 **
Dressing % per SW 34.3c 37.3b 38.8a 37.3b 0.0079 **
Dressing % per EBW 50.3 50.7 50.4 51.7 0.015 Ns
Loin weight (kg) 1.3b 1.7a 1.6a 1.7a 0.099 *
Forelegs (kg) 1.2b 1.6a 1.6a 1.5a 0.087 *
Hind legs (kg) 1.5b 2.1a 2.1a 2.1a 0.098 **
Brisket (kg) 0.58 0.55 0.53 0.59 0.061 Ns
Ribs with muscle (kg) 0.88c 1.3b 1.4a 1.3b 0.049 ***
Rib eye area (cm2) 6.1b 7.3ab 8.1a 8.2a 0.446 *
Neck (kg) 0.55b 0.77a 0.70a 0.75a 0.031 ***
a-c means in the same in a row with different superscript differ significantly; ***(p<0.001); **(p< 0.01); *(P<0.05); Ns=non-significant
Table 3: Main carcass characteristics of Hararghe highland sheep fed natural pasture grass hay basal diet and supplemented with DTP and concentrate feed.