INFLUENCE OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM ON MUSCLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN LAMBS OF THE KYRGYZ FINE-FLEECED BREED
The results of studies on the effect of Kyrgyz fine-fleeced ram-lambs castration on the growth and development of muscles of the axial department are submitted in the article. It has been found that the rate of muscle growth in wether lambs as compared with uncastrated ones slows, but the ratio of muscle groups remains about the same as that of the non-castrated rams. This is expressed in the fact that the relative weight of the body muscles is increased and the relative mass of extremities muscles is reduced. The transition of lambs from the dairy type of feeding to the vegetative one leads to enhanced development of the muscles of the abdominal wall to support the increased mass of the gastrointestinal tract. The extent of subcutaneous muscles development in wethers is higher than in rams. In the 10-months aged non-castrated rams and in wethers the muscles of the axial department of the skeleton are developed about the same. In rams the muscles of the shoulder and the vertebral column are better developed than that of the muscles of the abdominal wall.