Day 105: Final Weighing

Lambs were weighed for a final time on August 7.  After the high temperatures passed, gains returned to previous levels. For the final 14-d period, gain ranged from 4.0 to 16.6 lbs. and averaged 10.9 ± 2.4 lbs. The median gain was 10.8 lbs. ADG ranged from 0.286 to 1.19 lbs. per day and averaged 0.776 ± 0.170 lbs. per day. The median ADG was 0.771 lbs. per day.

Big boys waiting to be weighed

For the final weigh period, the short-scrotum (SC) lambs had the highest ADG, 0.818 ± 0.159 lbs. per day. The ram lambs had a higher ADG than the wether lambs: 0.797 ± 0.213 vs. 0.729 ± 0.127 lbs. per day.  For the 105-d duration of the study, ADG ranged from 0.550 to 0.937 lbs. per day and averaged 0.744 ± 0.086 lbs. per day. The median ADG was 0.737 lbs. per day. 

Overall, the ram lambs had the highest ADG: 0.788 ± 0.100 lbs. per day. The short-scrotum lambs had a higher ADG than the wether lambs:  0.759 ± 0.064 lbs. per day vs. 0.697 ± 0.063 lbs. per day.  The ADG of the ram lambs was 13 percent higher than the wether lambs. The short-scrotum lambs gained 8.6 percent more than the wether lambs. The differences were consistent across weigh periods.

Sex	No.	Start wt.	End weight	105-d ADG	ADG ratio
Ram	21	45.0 ± 10.3	127.8 ± 16.5	0.797 ± 0.213	113.0%
Short scrotum	18	45.1 ± 10.9	124.7 ± 12.8	0.759 ± 0.064	108.6%
Wether	25	43.5 ± 10.9	116.8 ± 13.3	0.697 ± 0.063	100.0%
ALL	64	44.4 ± 10.6	122.6 ± 14.9	0.744 ± 0.086

These are raw data. It is not known if any of the observed differences are statistically significant.

During the experiment, no lambs required deworming. FAMACHA© scores were mostly 1s and 2s. One ram lamb was removed from the study for health reasons.

The lambs were grazed throughout the study. Pastures consisted of mixtures of mostly cool season grasses, legumes, and forbs. There was also a one acre planting of warm season grasses and legumes. Lambs were hand-fed grain twice daily, at 2-3% of body weight. The grain was a balanced mix of whole barley, soybean meal, and minerals.There was also hay in the laneway.