J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1985. 61:423-429.
© 1985 American Society of Animal Science
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Age Effects on the Chemical Composition of Male Suffolk Sheep at 32 and 73 kg of Live Weight1

K. A. Leymaster2 and T. G. Jenkins2

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, NE 68933

Abstract

Age effects on weights of carcass and offal lipid, protein and ash of Suffolk rams slaughtered at two weights were investigated. Phenotypic variations among 68 and 58 rams were slaughtered at 32 and 73 kg of live weight, respectively, were analyzed. Rams were weaned at 50 d of age and fed common preweaning and postweaning concentrate diets ad libitum. Rams attained the target weights of 32 and 73 kg at average ages of 74.6 (SD = 12.4) and 183.3 (SD = 21.5) d, respectively. Among the six compositional traits at 32 kg, carcass lipid and offal lipid had approximately threefold greater relative variation than the remaining traits. As age decreased, the weights of carcass lipid and offal lipid increased (P<.001). The remaining compositional traits at 32 kg were not affected significantly by age. Offal lipid had the greatest relative variation among compositional traits at 73 kg, foliowed by carcass lipid. Significant regressions on age were detected for carcass protein (8.2 g/d), carcass ash (4.4 g/d), offal lipid (13 g/d), offal protein (–1.6 g/d) and offal ash (.83 g/d). Significant positive residual correlation coefficients were detected between carcass and offal lipid, between carcass protein and ash, between carcass protein and offal ash and between offal protein and ash. A biological interpretation of age effects on compositional traits is presented.

Footnotes

1 The experimental data reported herein contribute to Regional Project NC-111, "Increased Efficiency of Sheep Production."

2 U.S. Dept. of Agr., Agr. Res. Service, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center.






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Copyright © 1985 by the American Society of Animal Science.