Carcass characteristics and primal cuts of three Nigerian sheep as influenced by sex and breed

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the carcass and primal cuts of three Nigerian sheep breed as influenced by sex and breed. A total of eighteen (18) growing (12 – 18 months) sheep comprising three rams and three ewes each of Balami, Uda and Yankasa breed purchased from National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom. The experimental sheep were balanced for weight and allotted into six treatments based on breed (Balami, Uda and Yankasa) and sex (rams and ewes) effects with three replicates in a 2×3 factorial arrangement. The sheep were fed a total mixed ration comprised of 14.77% crude protein for 90 days. The results indicated that the rams had higher (P<0.05) fasted body weight (28.57 kg), slaughter body weight (27.43 kg), empty body weight (22.86 kg), hot and cold carcass weights (12.99 and 12.54 kg), and dressing percent (45.50 %) compared to the ewes. Like in the live body weight gain, Balami similarly recorded higher (P<0.05) fasted body weight (28.05 kg), slaughter body weight (26.93 kg), empty body weight (22.44 kg), hot and cold carcass weights (12.80 and 12.52 kg) compare to Yankasa breed while on a contrary, Uda had higher (P<0.05) dressing percent (47.50 %) than Balami and least value recorded in Yankasa. However, the percentage chilling loss for mutton was not affected (P>0.05) by both sex and breed differences. The interaction between sex and breed shows the rams and ewes of Balami sheep had higher (P<0.05) fasted body weight (29.84 kg), slaughter body weight (28.65 kg), empty body weight (23.87 kg), hot and cold carcass weights (13.75 and 13.34 kg) compare to the rams and ewes of Yankasa sheep while the rams and ewes of Uda sheep had higher (P<0.05) dressing percent (48.00 and 47.00 %) than Yankasa sheep and Balami ewes. The values for the primal cuts such as legs, chump, loin, neck, mid rib, main rib, shoulder and tail recorded in this study were higher (P<0.05) in the rams compared to the ewes while no significant difference was observed for breast. Regarding the breed effect, Balami also mirrored similar trend observed with carcass characteristics, having higher (P<0.05) values for primal cuts compared to the Yankasa breed of sheep but statistically similar to Uda. Interactively, sex did not influence the primal cuts between Balami and Uda breeds, however, the rams and ewes of Balami recorded higher (P<0.05) primal cuts than the Yankasa sheep. In conclusion, Balami sheep exhibited improved carcass characteristics and primal cuts. It can be recommended that for superior carcass and primal cuts rams of Balami should be prioritize.