Meat Production Performance of Karachai Ram Lambs Reared under Effects of Altitudinal Zonation in the Northern Caucasus Mountain Regions

Abstract

The objective of the survey was to assess the production performance of meat and its quality in the Karachai ram lambs reared under the different management technologies and altitudinal zonation systems in the Northern Caucasus Mountain Regions. The ram lambs of group one were kept on the mountain grazing lands at the elevation of 2200 m above sea level for the whole period of the survey. The ram lambs of group two were kept in the foothills at the elevation of 540 m above sea level. The ram lambs of group three, aged 4–8 months, were managed on grasslands at the elevation of 1200 m above sea level; reaching 9 months of age, they were moved toward low-elevation pasture fields in the foothills. The ram lambs of group four before weaning at 4 months of age were kept in the foothills at the elevation of 540 m above sea level; at the age of 4–8 months, they were moved toward high-mountain grasslands at the elevation of 2200 m above sea level; reaching 9 months of age, they were moved toward pastures in the foothills. The ram lambs reared under a vertical transhumance grazing system showed the maximum preslaughter liveweight compared to that in their peers kept under management promoting year-round grazing and foothill farming, which comprised 3.1–3.8 (P > 0.95–0.99) and 1.5–2.2 (P > 0.95), respectively. The carcass weight of the specimens grown under year-round grazing management made up 18.4 kg each, which was 0.8–2.7 kg lower on average than the values for the other ram-lamb groups (P > 0.95). The slaughter yield of the ram lambs of a vertical transhumance grazing system (group four) was 2.2% higher (P > 0.95) than that in their peers grazing year-round. The greater chop weight of grade one was typical for the youngstock of a vertical transhumance grazing system, which comprised 17.3–18.3 vs. 15.3–16.0 kg in their peers of year-round grazing management and foothill farming (P > 0.95–0.99). The lamb meat produced by the youngstock of grazing management was characterized by 5–28 mg/100 g (P > 0.95–0.99) and 0.19–0.89 (P > 0.95) increases in tryptophan levels and protein-quality values, respectively.