Carcass yield and primal cuts of lambs fed on different diets in the humid tropics

Abstract

In the humid tropics of Mexico, sheep production is an important economic activity, mainly focused on the sale of barbacoa and barbacoa tacos; however, no primal cuts of lambs are offered.
 Objective: To assess carcass yield and primal cuts of lambs fed on different diets in Loma Bonita, Oaxaca, Mexico.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: Five diets were assessed to measure carcass yield and primal lamb cuts: corn stover, corn silage, Chinese hibiscus (locally known as tulipán), cracked corn, and grazing. A completely randomized experimental design was used. The following variables were measured: hot and cold carcass weight, hot and cold carcass yield, neck weight, leg weight, shoulder weight, loin weight, rib weight, rib eye area determination, and fat thickness.
 Results: Lambs fed on cracked corn achieved a higher carcass yield (44.2%) than the other treatments (P≤0.05), a leg weight of 3.87 kg, and loins 2.57 kg heavier than the other treatments, in average (P≤0.05).
 Study Limitations/Implications: It was difficult to obtain homogeneous groups of lambs in terms of age and weight.
 Findings/Conclusions: Lambs fed on cracked corn recorded higher carcass yields and better leg and loin primal cuts than lambs fed on the other diets.