The Influence of Feedlot Weight on Market Lamb Peformance and Body Composition

In the last five to ten years, trimness has become very important in all species of livestock. During this time the size and scale of the market lamb has increased with a trimmer market lamb being produced. Light weight lambs tend to gain more rapidly and produce a leaner, trimmer carcass which may sell at a premium. The packer\u27s slaughtering and processing costs are prorated on a per head basis, therefore, it costs the packer the same amount to slaughter and process a 90 pound lamb as it does a larger one. With new techniques for processing, such as prepackaging, it may become desirable for the packer to purchase lambs which are larger than current market weights. Lambs are now produced which at these heavier weights are trim, heavily muscled and have a high percentage of edible portion. The production of more lambs of this type will assure a greater return on investment to both the packer and producer