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Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Carcass Traits of Lambs¹

New Mexico State University, University Park and Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Carcass data were obtained on 203 ram lambs and 186 wether lambs representing four lines of breeding and fed rations of two energy levels. Lambs from finewool breeding possessed heavier kidney knobs and more fat trim and smaller loin-eye areas than lambs from -blood and -blood breeding. Age of dam exerted the smallest effect of the factors studied with lambs from 3-year-old ewes producing heavier weights of square-cut shoulder, rack, loin and legs than other age classes. The rations fed significantly influenced weight of retail meat. Lambs fed the high energy ration produced fatter carcasses. Excessive subcutaneous fat was found to exert a significant negative effect on kilograms of retail meat. Loin-eye area showed a low relationship with measures of amount of retail meat, while measures of fat showed a more pronounced effect.

Ram lambs yielded more retail meat and had smaller kidney knobs and less excessive fat trim than wether lambs. Tenderness differed among lines of breeding. Lambs from the -blood and -blood ewes were more tender than those from the finewool groups. Rations had a significant effect on tenderness. Lambs fed the higher energy ration were more tender than those fed the all-roughage pelleted ration. Single wether lambs produced the most tender meat, while ram lambs twin with a ewe were the least tender. These data indicate that carcasses from ram lambs may be less tender than those from wethers, but the shear force value for rams is in the acceptable range for the consumer.

¹ Journal Paper No. 239, Agricultural Experiment Station, New Mexico State University. This study was supported in part by Western Regional Project W-61, Genetics and Environmental Studies of Factors Affecting Carcass Merit in Sheep.