Body composition studies with the milk-fed lamb. I. Chemical composition and calorific content of the body and organs of newly-born lambs

Abstract

The total body content of fat, protein, ash, moisture and energy of 43 male cross-bred lambs was determined after the lambs had suckled the ewe at pasture for between 2 and 5 days. Sixteen lambs were dissected into seven compartments, namely, carcass, skin, wool, blood, viscera (two groups) and vastus lateralis muscle, and the chemical composition of each was determined. The heats of combustion of the fat and fat-free tissues were also determined. The relationships between empty body weight and body and organ composition were described by logarithmic regression equations.