Carcass composition in lambs of Greek dairy breeds of sheep

Abstract

Nine male and nine female lambs each from the Karagouniko (K), Chios (C) and East Friesland (F) breeds were weaned at a mean age of 50 days and were killed over a commercial range of live weight from 16 to 44 kg (carcass weights 6 to 22 kg).Carcass weight was linearly related to fasted live weight prior to slaughter (r = 0-994). There were significant but small differences between breeds in mean weight of lungs, pelt and internal fat. The carcass components of bone, muscle and fat tissues were related to carcass weight by linear or quadratic regression. Adjusted to mean carcass weight, the mean weight of bone did not differ between breeds (2-82 kg, s.e. = 0-056 at 12-8 kg carcass). The K and C lambs had significantly less muscle than the F lambs (6-77, 6-63 and 8-20 kg, respectively, s.e.d. = 0-094) and more fat (2-87, 2-95 and 1-29 kg, respectively, s.e.d. = 0-017) when compared at mean carcass weight. The breed differences were significant over the whole range whether compared at equal weight or at an equal proportion of estimated mature weight. At the same proportion of carcass fat, corresponding to the United Kingdom market average (250 g/kg) the calculated carcass weights were 16, 17 and 30 kg, respectively, for K, C and F lambs.It is concluded that the Friesland breed differs from many others in the proportions of muscle or fat at corresponding carcass weights but this difference is not a general characteristic of dairy sheep. Comparison of breeds at defined proportions of carcass components, as determined by market standards, can be effectively achieved by serial slaughter over a suitable weight range.

Effect of age at slaughter on carcass characteristics and carcass composition in lambs of mountain Greek breeds

“…It is well known that the muscle tissue is "maturated" earlier in relation to the body weight of lambs. Researchers found a decrease in the lean percentage when the slaughter weight reached 40-76% of the mature weight of sheep (Taylor et al, 1989;Zygoyiannis et al, 1990). In Karagouniko and Kimis lambs a decrease in the muscle percentage was also noted with the increase in the slaughter weight from 26 to 30 kg (Matsoukas et al, 1991;Papadopoulos et al, 1993).…”

“…The researchers suggest that dairy breeds of sheep may produce leaner carcasses at higher weights on the basis of understanding the effects of genotype, environment and their interactions on the growth and production of such breeds (Butler-Hogg et al, 1986;Zygoyiannis et al, 1990).…”

Replacement of cereal grains by orange pulp and carob pulp in faba bean-based diets fed to lambs: effects on growth performance and meat quality

“…These values are higher than those obtained in a previous trial in which Barbaresca lambs were slaughtered at 100 d of age [15]. Slaughter age plays an important role in the development of carcass fatness and it is associated to the increase in the animal live weight [4,11,25].…”

The feeding of rams on farms of the "Macedonia" Cooperative of Chios sheep breeders

“…Στις πειραματικές εργασίες, όμως, η αύξηση έ φθανε μέχρι και το 100% (Oldham et al 1978). Ο Zygoyiannis (2006) συστήνει τη χορήγηση 0,5-0,7 kg βρώμης ημερησίως, τόσο για την περίοδο προετοιμα σίας όσο και για την περίοδο των συζεύξεων. Αυτό α ντιστοιχεί σε αύξηση της χορηγούμενης ενέργειας κα τά 40-50% σε σχέση με τις ανάγκες συντήρησης.…”