Evaluation of the growth, meatiness and fattiness in vivo in lambs of chosen breeds and crossbreeds

Abstract

The main aim of the study was the evaluation of the growth, meatiness and fattiness in vivo in lambs (n = 122) of chosen breeds (CH: Charollais and T: Texel) and crossbreeds (CH x Sf (Suffolk), CH x T, EF (East Friesiane) x CH and EF x T. Whithin the frame of this study were also evaluated the effects of sex (S), litter size (LS), age of the dams (AD) and year of the observation (YO) on aforementioned indicators. The study was carried out on the farm in Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem during the years 2004 and 2005. Within the scope of evaluation of meatiness and fattiness in vivo in lambs the following ultrasound measurement were carried out: area (Am.l.l.t., in cm2) and depth (Dm.l.l.t., in mm) of musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis (m.l.l.t.) and fat thickness (FT, in mm). Genotype had a significant effect on body weight at birth and on daily gains (DGs) from 30 to 100 days of age and from birth to 100 days of age. Sex had a significant effect on most of body weights under study and on DGs from birth to 30 days of age, from 30 to 70 days of age and from birth to 100 days of age. The LS, AD and YO had a significant effect on most of growth indicators under study. Genotype had a significant effect on Am.l.l.t. at the age of 70 days, Dm.l.l.t. and FT at the age of 100 days. The S had a significant effect on Dm.l.l.t. and Am.l.l.t. at the age of 70 days and on Am.l.l.t. at the age of 100 days. The LS and YO had a significant effect on most of indicators of meatiness and fattiness in vivo under study. On the other hand only the AD had not significant effect on all parameters of meatiness and fattiness.

Keywords

• lamb
• growth
• meatiness
• fattiness
• genotype
• sex