Effect of energy source and level, and sex on growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of lambs

•Lambs fed ad libitum WSC had the greatest ADG and G:F resulting in fewer DOF.•The ad libitum WSC diet also resulted in a lower feed cost of gain for lambs.•Feeding WSC decreased the total digestive tract weight.•Lambs fed WSC diets produced greater HCW, BF, BWT, marbling scores and YG.•Lambs fed WSC produced numerically larger LMA and had similar percentages of BCTRC.