Abstract
Twenty-four female lambs of the Pantaneiro genetic group, with approximately 100 days of age, average body of 16.24 ± 1.78 kg, were slaughtered with 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mm of subcutaneous fat thickness, measured by ultrasound in the Longissimus, to evaluate the allometric growth. Lambs fed a complete pelleted diet calculated to ensure a daily weight gain of 0.30 kg. Slaughtering was performed as the female lambs reached the pre-established fat thickness. After 24 hours in a cold chamber at 4oC, chilled carcasses were cut in half and weighed. The right side was separated into five sections to determine the allometry of carcasses and cuts. Neck and rib showed isogonic growth in all treatments. Loin has remained late growth to 2.0 and 3.0 mm. Shoulder and leg were isogonic growth in the treatments 3.0 and 4.0 mm. The leg in relation to half carcass showed the greatest correlation. The cuts exhibited differentiated development in the growth rates of tissues. It is recommended to slaughter female lambs when they reach 3.0 mm of subcutaneous fat thickness, since the carcass has already reached physiological maturity. Shoulder and leg cuts are best suited for dissection for presenting the highest correlation with the carcass in females of the Pantaneiro group.
Highlights
The growing development of agricultural activities in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul has propelled researches for improvement of production and growth performance indices
The neck cut showed a isogonic behavior, as well as ribs in all treatments (Table 2), that is, these cuts showed a proportional growth to the cold carcass (b = 1), corroborating Rota et al (2006), analyzing male Criollo sheep and Hashimoto et al (2012) working with Texel vs. Corriedale females
Once the lambs were confined for longer time, growth of this cut became isogonic in the treatment 4.0 mm
Summary
The growing development of agricultural activities in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul has propelled researches for improvement of production and growth performance indices. The sheep industry, despite its small representation in the total national herd, 5.5%, has attracted the interest of breeders to improve and provide carcasses with quality (IBGE, 2011). Sheep of the Pantaneiro genetic group underwent natural selection by climatic conditions of the Pantanal region and have high rusticity, good maternal ability and estrus throughout the year, which increases the value of this group in search of decreasing seasonality in the supply of carcass. For a preliminary evaluation of lamb carcasses, ultrasound has been used as a tool to select the best time for slaughtering, independent of body. Previous studies in European sheep breeds suggest the use of ultrasound in fat thickness for predicting carcass composition (RIPOLL et al, 2010)
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