THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION OF RAM AND EWE LAMBS FED ON PASTURE OR IN CONFINEMENT AND SLAUGHTERED AT SIMILAR FATNESS

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. JONES ◽  
T. D. BURGESS ◽  
K. DUPCHAK ◽  
E. POLLOCK
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
A Minor

Forty-nine crossbred ram lambs and 62 crossbred ewe lambs were allotted at weaning (average weight 30.6 kg) to pasture (P) or concentrate (C) feeding. The number of lambs per treatment was as follows: rams, 24 P fed and 25 C fed; ewes, 31 P fed and 31 C fed. The lambs were slaughtered after 56, 72, 100 and 121 days on feed. Offal components were weighed, and the alimentary tract was emptied of digesta. One side of each carcass was broken into four cuts (leg, loin, rib, shoulder) which were further separated into fat, muscle and bone. C-fed lambs were 4.0% heavier live than P-fed lambs (P < 0.05) and ram lambs were 9.0% heavier live than ewe lambs (P < 0.05) when evaluated at a constant depth of subcutaneous fat (4.5 mm). However, P-fed lambs required an extra 21 days (P < 0.05) to reach the same fat depth as C-fed lambs. C-fed lambs had greater rib eye areas than P-fed lambs, but carcasses from all treatments had similar proportions of dissected muscle, bone and fat when evaluated at a constant proportion of subcutaneous fat. P-fed lambs had a greater proportion of their empty bodies as head and reticulo-rumen, and a lower proportion as liver and large intestine than C-fed lambs. Ram lambs had a greater proportion of their empty bodies as head, and a lower proportion as caul fat, mesenteric fat, omasum and small intestine than ewe lambs. Distribution of muscle and bone among each of the four meat cuts which were evaluated was similar for all carcasses. Sex and feeding system had only a minor effect on the distribution of the fat depots. In this study, lambs fed on pasture required 21 days longer on feed to reach the same external fatness as concentrate-fed lambs, but produced carcasses of similar composition at slightly lighter liveweights (45.3 vs. 47.1 kg). Ram and ewe lambs spent a similar time on feed to reach a similar finish, but rams were heavier live than ewes (48.2 vs. 44.2 kg). Key words: Lambs, carcass composition, offal, constant fatness

CARCASS TISSUE YIELD AND DISTRIBUTION IN THREE BIOLOGICAL TYPES OF CATTLE FED GRAIN OR FORAGE-BASED DIETS

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. M. JONES
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Body Cavity ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Lean Tissue ◽  
A Minor

One hundred and eighty-nine steers comprising 63 small (S) rotational crossbreds, 66 large (L) rotational crossbreeds and 60 Holsteins (H) were fed either a concentrate diet based on corn silage and high-moisture corn, or a forage diet based on a mixture of corn silage and alfalfa haylage. All steers were fed ad libitum and slaughtered to cover a range in external fatness (0–15 mm subcutaneous fat). Steers were removed from feed 36 h and water 16 h prior to slaughter. The left side of each carcass was separated into depot fat, lean and bone. At the same proportion of subcutaneous fat (63 g/kg carcass), S and L carcasses had greater proportions of carcass lean (P < 0.001), but less fat (P < 0.01) and bone (P < 0.001) than carcasses from H Steers. Small and large carcasses had greater muscle to bone ratios (P < 0.001) than carcasses from H steers. Diet had no effect on lean tissue proportions, but forage feeding increased carcass bone (P < 0.001) and decreased carcass fat (P < 0.01). Forage feeding also resulted in carcasses with lower muscle to bone ratios (P < 0.01) than carcasses produced from grain feeding. Holstein-carcasses had more carcass fat partitioned into the body cavity depot and less into the subcutaneous depot than S and L carcasses, but diet had no effect on fat partitioning. Biological type (S, L or H) and diet were found to have a minor effect on fat distribution. The results are discussed with reference to carcass evaluation of beef and dairy cattle fed diets based on forage or grain. Key words: Biological type, diet, carcass composition, carcass grading

Growth and carcass composition of ram and wether lambs fed at two levels of nutrition

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Lee
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Fat Deposition ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
The Difference

This experiment examined the effects of two levels of nutrition on growth rate and fat deposition in the subcutaneous, kidney plus channel, omental and mesenteric depots of ram and wether second-cross lambs. Growth rates to slaughter were higher (P< 0.001) in lambs fed at the higher level of nutrition (170 � 5 v. 88 � 3 g/day; mean � s.e.). There was no difference in growth rates between ram and wether lambs at the levels of nutrition imposed. The level of nutrition did not influence fat depots when the comparison was made at the same carcass weight. Ram lambs had less subcutaneous fat than did wethers, the difference increasing (P = 0.06) at heavier carcass weights (1 00 v. 20 1 g increase in subcutaneous fat/kg increase in carcass weight, for rams and wethers respectively). A similar trend was evident in GR tissue depth; consequently, the distribution of fat scores of wether carcasses was closer to the high (fat) end of the range than was the distribution for ram carcasses (P < 0.05). The levels of total solvent-extractable fat in the carcass did not differ between sexes or levels of nutrition.

Carcass composition and eating quality of meat in ram and ewe lambs

1984 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 104-104
Author(s):  
B. W. Butler-Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Early Maturity ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Ram Lambs

Improving the efficiency of lean meat production is a major objective of producers. With cattle and, particularly, pigs, this has resulted in an increase in the use of entire male animals but not apparently so in the sheep sector, despite similar advantages. Ram lambs have traditionally been castrated for ease of management, particularly when they are ‘stored’ during winter. However, in early maturing breeds which can be finished off grass, considerable advantages may be gained from leaving ram lambs intact.In a trial which examined growth, composition and the eating quality of meat in 15 rams and 15 ewes of the Dorset Down breed (noted for early maturity), there were clear advantages in favour of the rams. In particular, ram lambs grew 28g/day faster on average than ewes, taking 2 weeks less to achieve 35 kg live weight. At the mean carcass weight of 16.8 kg, rams contained more lean (42 g) and bone (20 g) per kg carcass weight but less subcutaneous fat (33 g), intermuscular fat (28 g) and KKCF (kidney knob and channel fat) (13 g).

Carcass characteristics of heavyweight crossbred lambs. II.* Carcass composition and partitioning of fat

1979 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Thompson ◽  
KD Atkins ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Intermuscular Fat

Half-carcasses of 108 wether and ewe lambs from six genotypes, slaughtered at 34, 44 and 54 kg liveweight, were dissected into subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, muscle, bone and connective tissue. The six genotypes were the progeny of Dorset Horn and Border Leicester rams mated to Merino, Corriedale and Border Leicester x Merino first-cross ewes. As carcass weight increased, the proportion of subcutaneous and intermuscular fat increased (b > 1 ; P < 0.05) and the proportion of muscle and bone decreased (b < 1; P < 0.05). Lambs sired by Border Leicester rams had more subcutaneous fat (12.7%), more intermuscular fat (7.6%) and more bone (5.7%) than lambs sired by Dorset Horn rams at the same carcass weight (P< 0.05). Similarly, lambs sired by Dorset Horn rams had more muscle (7.2%) than lambs sired by Border Leicester rams at the same carcass weight (P < 0.05). Breed of dam had no effect on carcass composition. Wether lambs had a greater proportion of bone (5.7%) than ewe lambs at the same carcass weight (P < 0.05). The breed of sire effect and the lack of a breed of dam effect on carcass composition, in conjunction with estimated mature weights for the breeds, suggest possible differences between sire and dam breeds in the partitioning of fat between the carcass and non-carcass depots. ____________________ *Part I, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 30: 1197 (1979).

Effects of the percentage of Texel or Rouge de ľOuest genes in lambs on carcass characteristics and meat quality

1999 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Carson ◽  
B. W. Moss ◽  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Bone Content ◽  
Intermuscular Fat ◽  
Ram Lambs

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of the percentage of Texel or Rouge de l’Ouest (Rouge) genes in lambs (0, 50, 75 or 100%; the remainder being Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface)) on lamb carcass characteristics and meat quality. Ewe lambs were slaughtered at 34, 40, 46 and 52 kg and ram lambs were slaughtered at 40, 46, 52 and 58 kg live weight. Dressing proportion increased (P < 0·001) by 0·53 and 0·27 g carcass weight per kg live weight for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes respectively. Carcass conformation classification increased (P < 0·001) by 0·016 and 0·007 units (on a five-point scale) for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes respectively. Carcass fat depth measures were reduced by Texel and Rouge genes such that at a constant fat depth end point, carcass weight could be increased by 0·029 and 0·023 kg for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes. Carcass lean content increased (P < 0·001) by 0·99 and 0·27 g/kg for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes. Subcutaneous fat content was reduced (P < 0·001) by 0·36 and 0·29 g/kg for each 1% increase in Texel or Rouge genes. Intermuscular fat content was reduced (P < 0·01) by 0·38 g/kg per 1% increase in Texel genes, whereas Rouge genes had no effect. Similarly, bone content was reduced (P < 0·01) by Texel genes only (0·31 g/kg per 1% increase in Texel genes). Warner-Bratzler shear force values showed a quadratic effect with increasing Texel and Rouge genes, with an initial decrease from 0 to 50% followed by an increase to 100%. Cooking loss increased (P = 0·05) as the percentage of Rouge genes in lambs increased. Increasing the percentage of Texel or Rouge genes significantly increased L* values (P < 0·01 and P < 0·05 respectively), b* values (P = 0·05 and P< 0·05 respectively) and H° values (P < 0·001).

Carcass composition in four sheep breeds: the importance of type of breed and stage of maturity

1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Wood ◽  
H. J. H. MacFie ◽  
R. W. Pomeroy ◽  
D. J. Twinn
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Intermuscular Fat ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Total Fat ◽  
Omental Fat ◽  
Mature Size

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate the effects of type of breed on carcass composition, an examination was made of 361 lambs from four breeds: Clun Forest and Colbred (termed ewe breeds); and Suffolk and Hampshire (termed ram breeds). The animals were in four carcass weight groups averaging 15, 17, 19 and 21 kg.Percentage subcutaneous fat was influenced more by carcass weight than by breed, whereas both carcass weight and breed had similar effects on percentage lean. At the mean carcass weight of 18 kg, Colbreds, the leanest breed, had a similar value for percentage lean (about 57 % of carcass tissue weight) to the carcasses over all breeds weighing 15 kg; and Cluns, the fattest breed, had a similar value (about 54%) to those weighing 21 kg. Since the ram breeds were intermediate in composition between the two ewe breeds there was no effect of type of breed on carcass composition. The breed differences were related to eventual mature size and to the stage of maturity at each carcass weight, as judged by body length and bone weight measurements. However, Colbreds were bigger and leaner than published estimates of their mature weight suggested. Humerus weight was a good predictor of lean or total fat weight, explaining 83 % ofvariation when used as a predictor along with carcass weight.Type of breed had a marked effect on internal fat deposition, the ewe breeds having heavier weights of both kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF) and caul fat (omental fat) than the ram breeds; and on the length oflimb bones, the ewe breeds having longer but thinner bones than the ram breeds. The order of the relative growth of the tissues and fat depots was: subcutaneous fat > caul fat > KKCF > intermuscular fat > lean > bone. Therefore, the internal fat depots were later maturing than intermuscular fat.The percentage of prime cuts in the carcass was not affected by carcass weight. Colbreds had significantly lower values than the other breeds. Suffolks had the lowest lean to bone ratio.

The effects of plane of nutrition and slaughter weight on the performance and carcass composition of continental beef bulls given high forage diets

1994 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Patterson ◽  
C. A. Moore ◽  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Intake ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Body Cavity ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Slaughter Weight ◽  
Fat Depots ◽  
Increase With Increase ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractBulls (½ Blonde d'Aquitaine ⅜ Charolais) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial design experiment with two planes of nutrition in the finishing period and three slaughter weights. High and low planes of nutrition were based on diets with similar forage to concentrate ratio (0·40 of dry matter (DM)) offered ad libitum or at 0·78 of ad libitum DM intake at equal live weight respectively. The target slaughter live weights were 550, 625 and 700 kg. Twelve bulls were taken to each slaughter point and an additional five animals were killed as a pre-experimental slaughter group. Mean initial live weight was 412 (s.e. 5·3) kg at a mean age of 342 (s.e. 2·5) days. No significant interactions were found between the main factors. For the high and low planes, live-weight and estimated carcass gains were 1251 and 989 (s.e. 47·7), and 816 and 668 (s.e. 35·3) g/day respectively, the reduction in gains being similar to the proportional degree of nutritional restriction. Plane of nutrition had no effect on live-weight or carcass gain per unit of energy intake. The low plane of nutrition produced significant decreases in body cavity fat depots, subcutaneous fat in the sample joint and increased the proportions of both saleable beef and high-priced joints in the carcass.With increase in slaughter weight, energy intake per unit of live weight0·75 and rates of both live-weight and carcass gain tended to decline. The dressing proportions were 583,579 and 609 (s.e. 9·1) g/kg for the slaughter live weights of 550, 625 and 700 kg. Carcass conformation improved while fat depots in the body cavity and estimated concentration of separable fat in the carcass increased with increase in slaughter weight, and both estimated lean and bone concentrations decreased. Forequarter as a proportion of total side tended to increase with increase in slaughter weight. Slaughter weight had no effect on concentration of saleable meat or ultimate pH of carcass muscle. It is concluded that bulls of this genotype can be taken to high slaughter weights on diets having a relatively high proportion of forage as grass silage, with high rates of growth and acceptable carcass leanness.

Productivity and carcass composition of Friesian, Meuse-Rhine-Issel (MRI) × Friesian and Belgian Blue × Friesian steers

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Keane
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Regression Coefficients ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Intermuscular Fat ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Carcass Conformation ◽  
Fat Score ◽  
Total Muscle

AbstractOne hundred and twenty spring-born steers, comprising 40 Friesians (FR), 40 Meuse-Rhine-lssel (MRI) × Friesians (MR), and 40 Belgian Blue × Friesians (BB) were reared together from 3 weeks of age to the start of their second winter. During the second winter there was a 3 (FR, MR and BB breed types) × 2 (3 kg and 6 kg supplementary concentrates per head daily with grass silage ad libitum) × 2 (96- and 220-day finishing periods) factorial arrangement of treatments (10 animals per subgroup). Carcass weights and grades were recorded after slaughter at the end of the second winter, and one side from each of 96 carcasses (eight per subgroup) was dissected into bone, muscle, intermuscular fat and subcutaneous fat. A sample of m. longissimus from the 10th rib was chemically analysed. Slaughter weights and carcass weights per day from arrival to slaughter were 796, 813 and 828 (s.e.d. 11·7) g and 419, 440 and 457 (s.e.d. 7·1) g for FR, MR and BB, respectively. Corresponding carcass weights were 314, 329 and 342 (s.e.d. 4·5) kg. BB had better conformation than both FR and MR. BB also had a lower carcass fat score, lower proportions of bone, intermuscular fat and subcutaneous fat, a higher proportion of muscle and muscle with higher proportion of moisture and a lower proportion of lipid than FR and MR. The higher level of concentrates increased side iveight by 8 kg, but the overall effects on carcass composition were small. The longer finishing period increased side weight by 25 kg and was associated with significantly reduced proportions of bone and muscle and an increased proportion of fat. Allometric regression coefficients for carcass weight on slaughter weight, and for bone, muscle and fat weights on side weight were 1·19, 0·39, 0·80 and 2·16, respectively. It is concluded that despite the better carcass conformation of MR, there was little difference in carcass and muscle composition between FR and MR. BB, in addition to having a higher growth rate and better carcass conformation than FR, also had more muscle in the carcass, more of the total muscle in the higher value joints and a lower proportion of lipid in the muscle. It was calculated that FR, MR and BB would have similar proportions of separable fat in the carcass at approximate carcass weights of 300, 320 and 400 kg, respectively.

Comparison of boars and castrates for bacon production 2. Composition of muscle and subcutaneous fat, and changes in side weight during curing

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Wood ◽  
M. Enser
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Hybrid Male ◽  
Tissue Water ◽  
Tissue Protein ◽  
Different Levels

ABSTRACTSixty-four commercial hybrid male pigs given different levels of feeding between 27 and 87 kg live weight were used to determine whether quality differences between boars and castrates, when used for bacon production, are true castration effects or due to the greater leanness of boars. At the same carcass composition as castrates, boars had: a higher proportion of water in m. longissimus; a higher proportion of water and lower proportion of lipid in both layers of backfat at last rib; and slightly lower curing gain as the result of a greater loss of tissue water during curing. A separate study on the composition of backfat in lighter weight pigs also revealed a higher proportion of water and lower proportion of lipid in boar backfat compared with that of castrates or gilts, and in both studies a higher proportion of fat-free dry matter in boar backfat indicated greater synthesis of connective tissue protein. Subjective assessment of backfat firmness and whiteness revealed no important castration effects that were independent of carcass composition. The leanest group of boars (average 12 mm P2) had the lowest score for firmness. Fatty acid composition of outer and inner backfat layers was determined more by the rate of fat deposition than by castration.

Effects of growth path and post-slaughter chilling regime on carcass composition and meat quality of ewe lambs

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 819 ◽  
Author(s):  
LP Thatcher ◽  
GM Gaunt
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi ◽  
Growth Path ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Continuous Growth ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Significant Difference

Sixty-five Poll Dorset x (Border Leicester/Merino) ewe lambs. were grown at pasture on one of four growth paths commencing at mean age of 24 weeks and a mean liveweight of 37-5 kg. These were, continuous growth between 24 and 34 weeks (HH), maximum possible growth for 6 weeks followed by weight loss for 4 weeks (HL), no gain for 6 weeks followed by rapid gain for 4 weeks (LH) and weight maintenance (LL). Lambs were slaughtered as soon as possible after LH and HL lambs were the same full weight. There were significant differences between treatments in average growth rate, liveweight, hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing percentage. After adjustment for HCW, LH had significantly (P < 0.05) less omental and kidney fat than HH, and there was a strong tendency for less subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat and a lower tissue depth over the twelfth rib (at the GR site). Eye muscle area was significantly larger in LH than HH, but this did not translate to a significant difference in dissectible 'soft tissue' measurement. The Warner Bratzler shear value for LL in the M. longissimus dorsi was significantly higher than LH and HH. There were no differences between treatments for pH, Warner Bratzler shear values of the M. semimembranosus, cooking loss, or the colour measurements using a Minolta chromameter of L* (lightness) or b* (yellowness). The difference in a* (redness) between HL and LH was significant. Warner Bratzler shear values for M. longissimus dorsi and M.semimembranosus were significantly higher at 4�C than 10�C. The a* was significantly higher at 10�C, but there were no differences between L* and b*. There were no interactions between the post-slaughter chilling regime and the pre-slaughter nutritional management. It was concluded that the growth path had little effect on meat quality unless the lamb had been continuously on a restricted diet. Therefore there was some potential for the use of growth paths to manipulate carcass composition, and further research into management systems at pasture is recommended.

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