Effect of weaning age and slaughter weight on carcass and meat quality of Talaverana breed lambs raised at pasture

Abstract

Three weaning treatments (weaning at 45 days of age, at 65 days of age, unweaned) and two slaughter weights (24 and 28 kg) were compared in lambs raised at pasture, and their effect on carcass and meat traits were studied. Unweaned lambs displayed a greater growth rate, lower concentrate consumption, greater dorsal fat thickness, more kidney knob and channel fat and greater total fat levels, measured through dissection of the hind limb. Total collagen concentration was lower in unweaned lambs and the intramuscular fat of these same animals exhibited a greater proportion of saturated fatty acids and a lower n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio. Slaughter weight influenced scored carcass fatness, which was greater in heavier lambs, meat colour, which displayed greater lightness in lower-weight lambs, and water-holding capacity, which was lower in lambs with the lower slaughter weight. The heavier lambs displayed lower soluble collagen values, and the intramuscular fat of the longissimus dorsi muscle of these same lambs contained higher levels of monounsaturated and lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Effects of weaning age and weight on lamb growth rate of Morada Nova breed raised in a tropical extensive production system

“…The non difference on PWG of lambs weaned at different ages observed in this study is in accordance with reported on literature (CANEQUE et al, 2001) and it could be due to the fact that lambs at 60 days of age have a ruminal digestive system sufficiently developed to obtain nutrients from solid food. Beside this, ewe milk yield is very small after two months of lactation with low contribution for lamb nutrition (KARIM et al, 2000).…”

Effect of Weaning Age on Growth and Slaughter Characteristics of Grasscutters (Thryonomisswinderianus) Raised Under Intensive Management in the Humid Tropics

“…For instance, Ugur et al (2004) reported non-significant influence of weaning age on weight gains of kids of Turkish Saanen goat. Also in accordance with the results of this study, Caneque (2001) and Selaive-Villarroel et al (2008) reported no effect (P>0.05) of weaning age on total lamb weight gain and daily weight gain.…”

Carcass traits of improved and indigenous lamb breeds of North-Western Turkey under an intensive production system

“…Cañeque et al (2001) and Velasco et al (2004) also reported higher chilling loss in less fatty carcasses than those of fattier carcasses.…”