Effects of level and length of supplementation on BW and harvest characteristics of yearling Boer and Spanish wethers

Spanish (S; 28 - 40 wk of age) and Boer (B; 33 - 46 wk) wethers were used to determine effects of level (SL) and length of supplementation on BW and harvest characteristics. The experiment started in January, with wethers residing in 4 pastures primarily with warm season grasses. Alfalfa hay was given free-choice, and a pelleted diet (16% CP and 60% TDN) was supplemented at 0.5 or 1.5% BW (DM basis; L and H, respectively). Five S and 6 B were harvested initially, and 12 per breed (BR) and SL were harvested after 110 and 218 d (PR 1 and 2, respectively). Data were analyzed by GLM procedures. There were BR differences (P ≤ 0.06) in initial BW (33.3 and 23.7 kg), carcass weight (15.4 and 10.9 kg), and mass of noncarcass components (NCC; 11.7 and 9.2 kg for B and S, respectively) but not in mass of NCC relative to empty BW (EBW). The ADG was greatest (P