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Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances

Year: 2014 | Volume: 9 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 292-301
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Authors

Mamdouh S. Abd-Alla

Keywords

Research Article

A Comparative Study on Body Measurements and Carcass Characteristics in Egyptian Sheep and Goats

Mamdouh S. Abd-Alla
Ten males of each of Barki lambs and Zaraibi kids, fattened up to 12 months old, were used to investigate the influence of species on body measurements and carcass traits. Relationships between body weight and carcass traits with body measurements were also examined. Heart girth and paunch girth of Barki lambs were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of Zaraibi kids. Barki lambs achieved significantly (p<0.05) heavier weights of heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, lung and trachea than those of Zaraibi male kids. Hot carcass weight was significantly (p<0.01) higher in Barki lambs (20.2 kg) than Zaraibi kids (11.1 kg). Dressing percentage of Barki carcasses (50.4%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of Zaraibi ones (47.7%). Meanwhile, the left side cold carcass weight of Barki lambs significantly (p<0.05) excelled that of Zaraibi kids (10.3 vs. 5.4 kg). Accordingly, weights of carcass cuts (round, loin, thoracic region, shoulder and neck) were significantly (p<0.01) heavier in Barki carcasses compared to Zaraibi ones. However, carcasses of Zaraibi kids produced significantly (p<0.05) lower total fat stores (1101.0 g) than that of Barki lambs (2377.0 g). Longissimus dorsi area of Barki carcass significantly (p<0.05) excelled (14.5 cm2) that of Zaraibi ones (8.0 cm2). On the other hand, each of fasted body, carcass cuts and total fat stores weights, except paunch girth, of Barki lambs were not significantly correlated with any parameter of body measurements. Whereas, no correlation coefficient was found between any weight of Zaraibi carcass and either body length or height at withers. Additionally, dressing percentage of Zaraibi kids was positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with only heart girth. In the meantime, total fat stores weight of Zaraibi carcass was positively and significantly (p<0.05) correlated with each of heart girth (r = 0.73) and paunch girth (r = 0.67). In view of the previous results it could be concluded that positive and significant correlations were found between paunch girth and body weight of Egyptian sheep and goats. Accordingly, paunch measuring could be used to estimate body weight under field conditions. Additionally, heart girth and round circumference can be used to predict body weight as well as hot carcass weight.
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