Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T10:36:49.507Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Carcass composition in lambs of Greek dairy breeds of sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. Zygoyiannis ,
K. Stamataris ,
S. Kouimtzis  and
J. M. Doney
D. Zygoyiannis
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
K. Stamataris
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
S. Kouimtzis
Affiliation:
Centre of AI and Pathology of Reproduction, Diavata, Thessaloniki, Greece
J. M. Doney
Affiliation:
Centre of AI and Pathology of Reproduction, Diavata, Thessaloniki, Greece
Get access

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.

Keywords

carcass compositiongrowthlambssheep breeds
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , April 1990 , pp. 261 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Butler-Hogg, B. W., Whellhan, O. P. and Mummery, P. 1986. Carcass quality of dairy sheep. Animal Production 42: 461 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Croston, D., Kempster, A. J., Guy, D. R. and Jones, D. W. 1987. Carcass composition of crossbred lambs by ten sire breeds compared at the same carcass subcutaneous fat proportion. Animal Production 44: 99–106.Google Scholar
Cuthbertson, A., Harrington, G. and Smith, R. J. 1972. Tissue separation to assess beef and lamb variation. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (New Series) 1: 113–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doney, J. M., Milnh, J. A., Maxwell, T. J., Sibbald, A. M. and Smith, A. D. M. 1988. The effects of live weight at weaning on growth rate and carcass composition at different stages of maturity in Scottish Blackface lambs fed on two different diets. Animal Production 47: 401–409.Google Scholar
Doney, J. M., Smith, A. D. M. and Sim, D. A. 1987. Growth rate and carcass composition of Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface (BLB), East Friesland × Blackface (EFB) and East Friesland × North Country Cheviot (EFC) lambs. Animal Production 44: 483 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Katsaounis, N. 1972. Some observations on the productivity of imported sheep breeds and their hybrids after cross-breeding to Greek breeds. Scientific Yearbook of the Veterinary Faculty, Thessalonkiki 12: 195–220.Google Scholar
Katsaounis, N. and Zygoyiannis, D. 1986. The East Friesland sheep in Greece. Research and Development in Agriculture 3: 19–30.Google Scholar
Katsaounis, N., Zygoyiannis, D., Kyriakis, S. and Tsaltas, S. 1978. [The effect of Moncnsin and Zeranol on fattening lamb performance.] Geoleknika July-December 1978.Google Scholar
Katsaounis, N., Zygoyiannis, D. and Stamataris, K. 1979. Attempts at improving the productivity of Karagouniko sheep by cross-breeding for slaughter lamb production. II. Growth of suckling lambs. Scientific Yearbook Thessaloniki 19: 3–36.Google Scholar
Kempster, A. J., Croston, D., Guy, D. R. and Jones, D. W. 1987. Growth and carcass characteristics of crossbred lambs by ten sire breeds compared at the same estimated carcass subcutaneous fat proportion. Animal Production 44: 83–98.Google Scholar
Kempsthr, A. J., Croston, D. and Jones, D. W. 1981. Value of conformation as an indicator of sheep carcass composition within and between breeds. Animal Production 33: 39–94.Google Scholar
McClklland, T. H., Bonaiii, B. and Taylor, St. C. S. 1976. Breed differences in body composition of equally mature sheep. Animal Production 23: 281–293.Google Scholar
Mason, I. L. 1967. Sheep Breeds of the Mediterranean. Commonwealth Agricultural Organisation, Slough.Google Scholar
Searle, T. W. and Griffiths, D. A. 1976. Differences in body composition between three breeds of sheep. Proceedings of the Australian Society for Animal Production 11: 57–60.Google Scholar
Wolf, B. T., Smith, C. and Sales, D. I. 1980. Growth and carcass composition in the crossbred progeny of six terminal sire breeds of sheep. Animal Production 31: 307–313.Google Scholar
Wood, J. D., MacFie, H. J. H., Pomfroy, R. W. and Twinn, D. J. 1980. Carcass composition in four sheep breeds: the importance of type of breed and stage of maturity. Animal Production 30: 135–152.Google Scholar
Zervas, N., Boyazoglu, J. G., Kalaissakis, P., Papadimhriou, T. and Flamani, J. C. 1975. [A comparison of Chios and Fricsian ewes with their various crossings in continental Greece. 1. Viability and reproduction.] Annales de Génétique et de Sélection Animale 7: 277–291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zervas, N. P., Hatjiminaoglou, J., Glorgoudis, A. and Boyazoglu, J. G. 1988. Characteristics and experiences of the Chios Breed. Journal of Agricultural Science in Finland 60: 576–584.Google Scholar
Zervas, N. P., Matsoukas, J. and Hatjiminaoglou, J. 1977. [Studies on intensive production of sheep meat. Fattening of local and crossbred lambs.] Special Report, Department of Animal Production, School of Agriculture, Aristotelian University, Thessaloniki, No. 1.Google Scholar