Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T08:18:40.379Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Growth and carcass composition of tropical fat-tailed Menz and Horro sheep breeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

E. Negussie ,
O. J. Rottmann ,
F. Pirchner  and
J. E. O. Rege
E. Negussie*
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Animal Production Research/Animal Breeding, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
O. J. Rottmann
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding, Technical University of Munich, D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
F. Pirchner
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding, Technical University of Munich, D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
J. E. O. Rege
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
*
†E-mail:enyew.negussie@mtt.fi
Get access

Abstract

The pattern of growth and carcass composition of indigenous Ethiopian fat-tailed Menz and Horro lambs were assessed through serial slaughter and carcass dissection of 147 lambs at five different growth phases. The GLM procedure of Statistical Analysis Systems Institute and allometric growth equations were used to assess the effects of various factors and differential growth of carcass components, respectively. Results showed that the growth and carcass composition of Menz and Horro lambs was significantly (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) affected by the genotype, growth phase and season of birth of lambs. The effects of growth phase clearly showed that slower growth of the body and of carcass components was observed during the third phase (i.e. after weaning). Although there was an effect on fat to lean ratios (P < 0.05), growth phase had no significant effect on dressing out proportion, and lean to bone ratios. A significant influence of genotype (P < 0.001) and sex (P < 0.05) on lean to bone ratios indicated that the Horro sheep and ram lambs had a much more developed and heavier skeleton than the Menz sheep and ewe lambs. Higher pre-slaughter, hot carcass, lean and bone and fat weights of May/June born lambs revealed significant advantages of wet season lambing for fast growth and improved carcass composition. The log/log regression of weights of dissectible carcass components on hot carcass and empty body weight showed that the differential growth of bone was declining and that of lean was isometric relative to the growth of empty body weight. For carcass fat, the allometric growth coefficients (b) of 1.5 and 1.8 for Menz and Horro sheep, respectively indicated that fat is a late maturing body component. Moreover the growth of carcass fat relative to empty body weight in the Menz and Horro sheep is slower than that reported for tropical sheep breeds.

Keywords

allometrycarcass compositiongrowthHorroMenzsheep
Type
Growth, development and meat science
Information
Animal Science , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 245 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2004

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

Afonso, J. and Thompson, J. M. 1996. Changes in body composition of sheep selected for high and low backfat thickness, during periods of ad libitum and maintenance feeding. Animal Science 63: 395–406.Google Scholar
Ash, A. J. and Norton, B. W. 1987. Studies with Australian cashmere goat. 2. Effects of dietary protein concentrate and feeding level on body composition of male and female weaner goats. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 38: 971–982.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berg, R. T. and Butterfield, R. M. 1976. New concepts of cattle growth. Sydney University Press, Sydney.Google Scholar
Colomer-Rocher, F., Kirton, A. H., Mercer, G. J. K. and Duganzich, D. M. 1992. Carcass composition of New Zealand Saanen goats slaughtered at different weights. Small Ruminant Research 7: 161–173.Google Scholar
Devendra, C. and Burns, M. 1983. Goat production in the tropics. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, UK.Google Scholar
Fourie, P. D., Kirton, A. H. and Jury, K. E. 1970. Growth and development of sheep. II. Effect of breed and sex on the growth and carcass composition of the Southdown and Romney and their cross. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 13: 753–770.Google Scholar
Gaili, E. S. E. 1979. Effect of breed type on carcass weight and composition in sheep. Tr opical Animal Health and Production 11: 191–198.Google Scholar
Gailli, E. S. E. and Mahgoub, O. 1981. Sex differences in body composition of Sudan desert sheep. World Review of Animal Production XVII: 27–30.Google Scholar
Hassan, H. A. and El-Feel, F. M. R. 1993. The effect of breed, level of feeding, age and slaughter weight on performance and carcass traits of lambs. Egyptian Journal of Animal Production 28: 255–268.Google Scholar
Hohenboken, W. 1977. Genetic and environmental effects on post weaning growth and carcass merit of crossbred lambs. Journal of Animal Science 45: 1261–1271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huxley, J. 1932. Problems of relative growth. Methuen, London.Google Scholar
Kirton, A. H. 1970. Body and carcass composition and meat quality of the New Zealand feral goat (Capra hircus). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 13: 167–181.Google Scholar
Lirette, A., Seoane, J. R., Minvielle, F. and Froehlich, D. 1984. Effects of breed and castration on conformation, classification, tissue distribution, composition and quality of lamb carcasses. Journal of Animal Science 58: 1343–1357.Google Scholar
Louca, A., Economides, S. and Hanock, J. 1977. Effect of castration on growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and carcass quality in Damascus goats. Animal Production 24: 387–391.Google Scholar
McDowell, R. E. and Bove, L. 1977. The goat as producer of meat. Report no. 60. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
Macit, M. 2002. Growth and carcass characteristics of male lambs of the Morkaraman breed. Small Ruminant Research 43: 191–194.Google Scholar
Mahgoub, O. and Lodge, G. A. 1994. Growth and body composition of Omani local sheep. 1. Live-weight growth and carcass and non-carcass characteristics. Animal Production 58: 365–372.Google Scholar
Mukasa-Mugerwa, E., Lahlou-Kassi, A., Rege, J. E. O., Tembely, S., Tibbo, M. and Baker, R. L. 2000. Between and within breed variation in lamb survival and the risk factors associated with major causes of mortality in indigenous Horro and Menz sheep in Ethiopia. Small Ruminant Research 37: 1–12.Google Scholar
Mukhoty, H. and Berg, R. T. 1973. Influence of breed and sex on growth patterns of major bovine tissues. Animal Production 13: 219–227.Google Scholar
Nitter, G. 1975. Results of a crossbreeding experiment with sheep for different systems of fat lamb production. II. Growth and carcass traits. Livestock Production Science 2: 179–190.Google Scholar
Owen, J. E. and Norman, G. A. 1977. Studies on the meat production characteristics of Botswana goats and sheep. II. General body composition, carcass measurements and joint composition. Meat Science 1: 283–306.Google Scholar
Owen, J. E., Norman, G. A., Philbrooks, C. A. and Jones, N. S. D. 1978. Studies on the meat production characteristics of Botswana goats and sheep. 3. Carcass tissue composition and distribution. Meat Science 2: 59–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phoya, R. K. A. and Kamoto, T. H. A. 2000. Tissue partitioning of the indigenous Malawi goat. Tr opical Agriculture, Trinidad 77: 38–41.Google Scholar
Pralomkarn, W., Ngampongsai, W., Choldumrongkul, S., Kochapakdee, S. and Lawpetchara, A. 1995. Effects of age and sex on body composition of Thai native and cross-bred goats. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science 7: 555–561.Google Scholar
Ruvuna, F., Taylor, J. F., Okeyo, M., Wanyoike, M. and Ahuya, C. 1992. Effects of breed and castration on slaughter and carcass composition of goats. Small Ruminant Research 7: 175–183.Google Scholar
Snyman, M. A. and Oliver, W. J. 2002. Productive performance of hair and wool type Dorper sheep under extensive conditions. Small Ruminant Research 45: 17–23.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1989. SAS/STAT user’s guide, version 6, fourth edition. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Tahir, M. A. H., Al-Amin, S. K. and Kadim, T. 1985. Carcass characteristics of Arabi ram lambs slaughtered at different ages. Indian Journal of Animal Science 55: 1099–1103.Google Scholar
Taylor, St C. S., Murray, J. I. and Thonney, M. L. 1989. Breed and sex differences among equally mature sheep and goats. 4. Carcass muscle, fat and bone. Animal Production 49: 385–409.Google Scholar
Teixeira, A., Delfa, R. and Treacher, T. 1996. Carcass composition and body fat depots of Galego Bragançano and crossbred lambs by Suffolk and Merino Precoce sire breeds. Animal Science 63: 389–394.Google Scholar
Thonney, M. L., St C. S., Taylor, Murray, J. I. and McClelland, T. H. 1987. Breed and sex differences in equally mature sheep and goats. 2. Body components at slaughter. Animal Production 45: 261–276.Google Scholar