Predicting Carcass Composition of Ewe, Wether and Ram Lambs

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Abstract
Data were collected on 64 ram and 564 wether and ewe carcasses. Simple carcass measurements were useful in developing equations for estimating percent fat, weight of retail cuts and percent retail cuts. The equation using body wall thickness and fat depth 3.8 cm. from the midline between the 12th and 13th ribs had multiple correlations of 0.72 and 0.87 and standard error of estimates of 2.95 and 3.90 for predicting percent fat in the boneless carcass of ewes and wethers and rams, respectively. Carcass weight, body wall thickness and fat depth 3.8 cm. from the midline between the 12th and 13th ribs had a multiple correlation of 0.84 and a standard error of estimate of 0.34 for estimating kilograms of retail cuts from lamb carcasses. Carcass weight and body wall thickness had a multiple correlation of 0.99 and a standard error of 0.44 for predicting kilograms of retail cuts of ram carcasses. Body wall thickness, kidney weight and fat depth 3.8 cm. from the midline between the 12th and 13th ribs had a multiple correlation of 0.73 and a standard error of 1.47 for estimating percent retail cuts from lamb carcasses. The equations mentioned in this summary indicate that percent fat, percent retail cuts and weight of retail cuts can be estimated without breaking the carcass or by using subjective measurements.

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