Prediction of sheep carcass yield using combinations of ante-mortem and post-mortem measurements

Abstract

Background: Various factors affect meat production of the sheep, such as feed, live weight at slaughter and genotype. The aim of this research was to provide information on relationship between ante-mortem and post-mortem measurements of sheep as a selection criterion in two breeds. Methods: This study was carried out on 151 male sheep (rams) belonged to Ouled Djellal breed (n=118) and Hamra breed (n=33) between March and June of 2023 at the municipal slaughterhouse in the wilaya of Tebessa. The animals were older than 12 months (adult individuals). Result: The data revealed that before slaughter of the Ouled Djellal rams had significantly higher body weight (68.31±11.14 versus 61.83±5.04 kg), compared to Hamra breed. There were significant differences in the following ante-mortem traits between two breeds: heart girth, scapular-ischial length and dactyl-thoracic index among the breed (P<0.05). After slaughter, the carcass weight (34.96±7.82 kg versus 30.53±4.33 kg) and the carcass yield (51.51 versus 49.15) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Djellal than in Hamra breed. Therefore, the sheep of the Ouled Djellal breed were the heaviest; they had wider chest and longer carcass. However, the carcass conformation was better in Hamra breed (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study confirmed that sheep breed affects carcass conformation and suggested the ways of improving these breeds whose qualities of adaptability are no longer to be demonstrated.