OBJECTIVE The vertebral number is associated with body length and carcass traits, which represents an economically important trait in farm animals. The variation of vertebral number has been observed in a few mammalian species. However, the variation of vertebral number and quantitative trait loci in sheep breeds have not been well addressed. METHODS In our investigation, the information incl...

The heritability of carcass quality traits and the genetic correlations between wool production and these carcass quality traits were estimated on 1216 Merino rams. The results showed that carcass quality traits are moderately heritable but pH appears to be lowly heritable. Yellowness and redness of L. dorsi had very low heritability estimate. Moderate negative genetic relationships were found ...

The objective of this study was to estimate parameters required for genetic evaluation of Simmental carcass merit using carcass and live animal data. Carcass weight, fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score were available from 5,750 steers and 1,504 heifers sired by Simmental bulls. Additionally, yearling ultrasound measurements of fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, and e...

The effects of maturity of maize at harvest, level of inclusion and potential interactions on the performance, carcass composition, meat quality and potential concentrate-sparing effect when offered to finishing beef cattle were studied. Two maize silages were ensiled that had dry matter (DM) concentrations of 217 and 304 g/kg and starch concentrations of 55 and 258 g/kg DM, respectively. Grass...

Calves weaned on cow­calf operations throughout Arkansas even­ tually move on to stocker, feedlot and packer operations. Wide variations in carcass uniformity and consistency exist among these calves. Potential carcass problems can include inappro­ priate carcass size and weight, i nadequate tenderness, insufficient intramuscular fat (marbling) and excess external fat cover. Many of these quali...

Muscular and lean market lambs grow more efficiently and produce a meat product more preferred by the consumer compared to poorly muscled and fat lambs. Therefore, a case can be made for selection of breeding stock, especially within the terminal sire breeds like Suffolk and Hampshire, for desired carcass composition. Since breeding stock cannot be slaughtered in order to obtain carcass measure...

Three native sheep breeds like Jamuna basin, Barind tract and Coastal belt that used to rear in semi-intensive systems three agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. The quality meat is a multifactorial trait dependent on the perspective goals link production chain. In this review an attempt has been made present detail carcass traits attributes relation other breeds. Some factors influence lamb na...

The objective of this study was to test and validate electromagnetic scanning of whole pork carcasses in an on-line, integrated, industrial configuration. The electromagnetic (EM) scanner was installed in two pork processing facilities (Plant A and Plant B). Plant A was a small pork fabrication plant that further processed chilled pork carcasses. Carcasses were delivered to Plant A by refrigera...

The objectives of this study were to estimate effects of sire breed (Dorset, Finnsheep, Romanov, Texel, and Montadale), and dam breed (Composite III and Northwestern whiteface) on survival, growth, carcass, and composition traits of F1 lambs. Effects of mating season (August, October, and December) were estimated for survival and growth traits. Data were collected on 4,320 F1 lambs sired by 102...

Rusa deer are the only viable commercial tropical deer species for farming in the tropics because of their hardiness, adaptability and prolific characteristics. Twelve entire rusa stags were slaughtered according to halal procedure and used for carcass evaluation and cutability studies. Three carcass categories; large (46 to 55 kg), medium (36 to 45 kg) and small (25 to 35 kg) were developed fo...