RELATIONSHIPS AND VARIATION AMONG CERTAIN LAMB CARCASS TRAITS

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Abstract
Data obtained over a 2-year period on 120 lamb carcasses provided estimates of the covariation among the traits of loin eye area (longissimus dorsi), backfat thickness, percent shoulder, percent rack, percent loin, percent leg, and dressing percent.Percent leg, percent shoulder, and loin eye area decreased with an increase in fatness while percent loin, percent rack, and dressing percent increased. Carcass weight accounted for about 46% and 31% respectively of the variation in loin eye area and dressing percent, but less than 10% for any other traits.An examination of the variation among the traits showed that highly significant (P <.01) year differences occurred for loin eye area, percent shoulder, percent rack, percent leg, and dressing percent, but not for backfat thickness and percent loin.Breed differences were found to exist between Suffolk and line M lambs for all traits studied. Sex differences were found for backfat thickness, percent shoulder, percent loin, and dressing percent. However, most of these differences occurred between ewes and wethers or ewes and rams.

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