In addition, in this more advanced phase, when the first signs of sexual dimorphism begin to emerge, the effect of sex on weight gain from 90 to 120 days was almost significant ( p = 0.052) due to the faster growth rate of males compared to females.
Although the lambs fed with DWB showed a higher DM intake from both alfalfa hay and concentrate, these differences did not reach statistical significance; as a consequence, the diet did not significantly affect the concentrate and diet conversion ratios.
A tendency towards significance of the feeding plan also emerged for the incidence of the empty gastrointestinal tract and its content, which slightly increased in 120R lambs, and can be explained by the slower gastrointestinal transit associated to restricted feeding that would favor a longer permanence of ingested feeds in the digestive tract and, as a consequence, a slight increase recorded in its volume and content.