Specific gravity measurements of lamb carcass joints.

10 Ossimi lamb carcasses were used to determine the specific gravity values of different joint cuts. The correlation coefficients were established between the specific gravities of these joints and the percentages of fat and muscle in the rib saddle joint. It was found that the gravity of different carcass sections was significantly related to the muscle and fat percentages in the rib saddle joint. The results indicate that the specific gravity values of carcass sections can be utilized for a practical estimate and assessment of carcass components.

The effect of daylength and level of feeding on serum prolactin in growing lambs.

Twenty-four castrated male lambs initially maintained on a photoperiod of 12 h light:12 h dark were allocated to a factorial experiment with two daylengths (8 h L: 16 h D or 16 h L: 8 h D) and two levels of feeding (restricted or ad libitum). Blood samples were taken every 4 h for 24 h during the introductory period and after 24, 51 and 79 days of treatment. There were highly significant positive effects of daylength and level of feeding on serum prolactin: mean concentrations increased from a mean of 38 plus or minus 1 ng/ml during the introductory period until at day 79 they were: 8L: 16D (restricted diet), 81 ng/ml; (food ad libitum), 167 ng/ml; 16L:8D (restricted diet), 262 ng/ml; (food ad libitum), 262 ng/ml (S.E. of treatment mean plus or minus 4). Long daylength and feeding ad libitum also significantly increased growth rate.