Shoulder Weight Research Articles

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

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.

Candidate SNPs for meat quality and carcass composition in free-range Iberian pigs

Several genetic markers, previously associated with meat quality traits, have been proposed to be included in Iberian pig breeding programs. However, before being implemented, effects of these candidate SNPs on premium cuts' yield should be evaluated to avoid potential undesirable antagonistic effects. Therefore, the main goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of a set of 26 polymorphisms on premium cuts weights and to corroborate their effects on meat quality in a larger population. Phenotypic data of approximately 1550 Iberian pigs were recorded. The PRKAG3_rs319678464C and PRKAG3_rs1108399077G alleles were associated with an increase of shear force, water losses and color values and a reduction of average daily gain (ADG). The CAST_rs196949783G>A and ADIPOQ_rs3476515794T>G SNPs mainly affected IMF content, with this last SNP being the only one with significant effects on any of the carcass measures, specifically Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) weight. The ELOVL6_rs3473714672A, FASN_rs331694510A, MTTP_rs335896411C and ACACA_rs340781986C alleles were linked to a higher percentage of oleic acid and monounsaturated FA and a decrease in palmitic, palmitoleic and saturated FA. Besides, suggestive effects were observed between ELOVL6_rs3473714672A>G and ham and shoulder weights, and between MTTP_rs335896411T>C and LTL muscle weight. Finally, the NR6A1_rs326780270T allele was associated with a significant increase in ADG and tended to reduce the ham weight. The SNPs mapped to PRKAG3 (rs319678464G>C), ACACA, FASN and CAST genes could be implemented in breeding programs to improve meat quality traits without undesirable effects on carcass composition. The SNPs mapped to PRKAG3 (rs1108399077G>A) ELOVL6, MTTP and NR6A1 should continue to be tested in a larger number of animals.

Changes in Carcass Composition, Meat Quality Traits, and Stress Levels in Culled Sows Exposed to Different On-Farm Rest Periods

The study investigated the effect of on-farm rest period (RP) on carcass composition, meat quality, and stress indicators of culled sows. The study was conducted on 84 Large White × Landrace culled sows, which were divided into seven groups (n = 12) with respect to the duration of the on-farm rest period: no rest period (N-RP) group and 1 to 6 weeks of on-farm rest period (1–6 RP). After completion of the on-farm RP, each group of culled sows was slaughtered and the carcass and meat quality traits were determined. Sows from 6-RP had a significantly higher dressing percentage and backfat thickness and, together with sows from 5-RP, a higher shoulder weight. The highest shoulder percentage was found in the 3-RP and 4-RP groups, while 1-RP had the highest percentage for the belly–rib part. At the same time, RP influenced the final pH values (pH24 SM and pH24 LL) measured in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LT) and in the musculus semimembranosus (SM), as well as drip loss, thawing loss, cooking loss, and tenderness. As far as the stress indicators are concerned, statistical differences between groups were only found in the cortisol level, which was lowest in 6-RP. The results show that RP has a positive effect on meat quality traits and carcass composition. In addition, prolonged RP has a positive effect on the levels of stress indicators.

SAĞLIKLI GENÇ YETİŞKİNLERDE HALAT VE KÜREK EGZERSİZLERİNİN FİZİKSEL PERFORMANS ÜZERİNE ETKİLERİNİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI

Amaç
 Halat egzersizleri, fiziksel performansı artırmak için
 geniş çaplı ve ağır halatların kullanıldığı pliyometrik
 egzersiz yaklaşımıdır. Kürek egzersizleri ise genel vücut
 kuvvetini artıran, kapalı ortamda kürek çekme aletiyle
 yapılan bir egzersiz türüdür. Çalışmanın amacı,
 bu iki egzersiz yaklaşımının omzun internal rotasyon/
 eksternal rotasyon (IR/ER) kas kuvvetine, propriyosepsiyonuna,
 üst ekstremite dengesine, alt ekstremite
 kuvveti ve gövde stabilizasyonuna etkilerinin karşılaştırılmasıdır.
 Gereç ve Yöntem
 Araştırmaya, 18-25 yaşları aralığında sağlıklı 22 birey
 dahil edilmiştir. Çalışma başlangıcında ve sonunda;
 60°/sn açısal hızdaki izokinetik dinamometre ile IR/
 ER omuz kas kuvvet testi, izokinetik dinamometre ile
 15°, 45° ve 75° hedef açılarda aktif IR/ER omuz propriyosepsiyon
 ölçümü, üst ekstremite için Y denge testi
 ve kapalı kinetik zincir alt ekstremite stabilite testi gerçekleştirilmiştir.
 Katılımcılar randomize olarak kürek
 (n=10) ve halat (n=12) egzersiz gruplarına ayrılmıştır.
 Her iki gruba da 6 hafta boyunca, haftada 3 gün, gün
 aşırı, 6 set egzersiz ve setler arasında 30 sn dinlenmeyle
 egzersizler yapılmıştır. Egzersizler sırasındaki
 ritmi takip edebilmek için halat egzersiz grubunda 60
 bpm, kürek grubunda 30 bpm metronom hızı belirlenmiştir.
 Bulgular
 Egzersiz programlarından sonra; her iki grubun da
 (Kürek; n=9 / Halat; n=10) başlangıca göre kapalı kinetik
 zincir alt ekstremite stabilite testi ve IR total iş
 sonucunda anlamlı artış bulunmuş (p˂0,05), Üst Ekstremite
 Y Denge Testi ve propriyosepsiyon testi sonuçlarında
 fark olmadığı görülmüştür (p˃0,05). Halat
 egzersizi grubunun; dominant omzunun 60˚/s hızındaki
 IR zirve torku (p=0,048) ve vücut ağırlığına oranı
 (p=0,045) egzersiz programının sonunda, başlangıca
 göre anlamlı olarak artmıştır. Egzersiz programı-
 nın başlangıcına göre egzersiz programı sonrasında
 belirlenen değişim miktarlarının karşılaştırılmasında
 iki grup arasında birbirine üstünlük gözlenmemiştir
 (p>0,05).
 Sonuç
 Mevcut sonuçlar ışığında iki egzersiz protokolünün de
 sağlık bireylerde antrenman programlarının bir parçası
 haline getirilebileceğini düşünmekteyiz.

An Origanum majorana Leaf Diet Influences Myogenin Gene Expression, Performance, and Carcass Characteristics in Lambs.

Myogenin is a protein in the myogenic regulatory factor family that plays an important role in determining carcass and meat traits and is vital for the growth and development of livestock muscles. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Origanum majorana leaf (MOL) on the myogenin gene expression of lambs. Twenty-four male Kermani lambs were used in a completely randomized design using two experimental groups (0% Origanum majorana L. = MOL0 and 4% Origanum majorana L. = MOL4). Final weight, average daily gain, hot and cold carcass weight, feed conversion ratio, empty body weight, hot and cold dressing percentage, the weight of the shoulder, loin, leg, and lean meat, and the lean/bone ratio were measured. A standard kit was used for extracting total RNA from the loin, leg, and shoulder muscles of the lambs’ tissues. The cDNA was synthesized, a real-time PCR was performed, and the obtained data were analyzed. The results of this study showed that the effect of MOL4 on dry matter intake is not significant. The MOL4 diet increased final weight by 8.22%, average daily gain by 28.57%, hot carcass weight by 11.38%, cold carcass weight by 13.43%, feed conversion ratio by 31.03%, empty body weight by 9.38%, hot dressing percentage by 2.92%, cold dressing percentage by 3.75%, shoulder weight by 56.70%, loin weight by 8.98%, leg weight by 10.90%, lean meat weight by 14.62%, and the lean/bone ratio by 2.85% (p < 0.05) compared to the MOL0. Along with adding MOL4 in the lambs’ diets, in comparison with MOL0, there was higher expression of myogenin in the loin (3.5 times), leg (3.9 times), and shoulder (3.6 times) muscles of the lambs. Due to the fact that adding Origanum majorana to the diet of the lambs enhanced the expression of the myogenin gene in the loin, leg, and shoulder muscles and increased parameters related to growth, it can be used to improve the parameters related to growth and to increase myogenin gene expression in the muscle of lambs.

Performance, nutritional behavior, and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs fed diets with non-forage fiber source or sodium bicarbonate.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation in diets and compare its chemical effect with the fiber effect of soybean hulls on performance, nutritional behavior, and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs. Twenty-eight ram lambs (Dorper × Santa Inês), with an initial body weight of 30.2 ± 4.5kg and 94 ± 8.4days old, were used. They were assigned to a randomized complete block design, defined by initial age and body weight. Experimental diets were positive control, diet containing soybean hulls in 400g/kg dry matter (DM) (CONT), and three diets based on ground flint corn containing 10 (10SB), 20 (20SB), or 30 (30SB) g/kg DM of SB. Among the SB levels, the buffer supplementation quadratically increased dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, as well as increased final and slaughter body weight, which led to higher hot and cold carcass weights, loin muscle area, leg compacity index, and weight of neck, shoulder, rib, and leg cuts, with higher values for the 20SB. Feeding SB linearly decreased the area and height of the papillae. None of the animals presented liver abscess; however, two animals from 30SB and one from CONT had F-rumen lesions. The use of SB provided a similar animal performance when compared to the treatment containing soybean hulls. This shows that the chemical effect of the buffer was efficient and provided greater safety for this type of diet without causing damages to the rumen health. Among the SB levels, the best results were observed in the 20g/kg level (20SB), which shows that the buffer can be used as a strategy for diets with high inclusion of corn and no fiber source.

Development of Carrot Nutraceutical Products as an Alternative Supplement for the Prevention of Nutritional Diseases.

Nutraceuticals can serve as an alternative supplement to overcome nutritional deficiency for a healthy lifestyle. They can also play a key role in disease management. To develop carrot nutraceutical products, 64 genotypes from four different continents were evaluated for a range of morpho-nutrition variables. Genetic variability, heritability, strength and direction of association among variables, and direct and indirect relationships among physiochemical and nutritional traits with β-carotene content were evaluated. Core diameter, foliage weight, root weight and shoulder weight showed significant association with β-carotene accumulation. Principal component analysis for physiochemical and nutritional assessment divided these genotypes into two distinctive groups, Eastern carrots and Western carrots. Caloric and moisture content had high positive associations with β-carotene content while carbohydrate content was negatively associated. Five genotypes (T-29, PI 634658, PI 288765, PI 164798, and Ames 25043) with the highest β-carotene contents were selected for making three nutraceutical supplements (carrot-orange juice, carrot jam and carrot candies). These nutraceutical supplements retained high β-carotene content coupled with antioxidant properties. Carrot jam (6.5 mg/100 g) and carrot candies (4.8 mg/100 g) had greater concentrations of β-carotene than carrot-orange juice (1.017 mg/100 g). Carrot jam presented high antioxidant activity with the highest values in T-29 (39% inhibition of oxidation) followed by PI 634658 (37%), PI 164798 (36.5%), Ames 25043 (36%) and PI 288765 (35.5%). These nutraceutical products, with 4–6.5 mg/100 g β-carotene content, had higher values than the USDA recommended dietary intake of 3–6 mg β-carotene/day can be recommended for daily use to lower the risk of chronic disease.

Carcass and meat characteristics of Dorper x Santa Ines lambs finished in pasture, silvopastoral system, and feedlot

The objective of this work was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass and meat of Dorper x Santa Ines crossbred lambs finished in a silvopastoral system, pasture or feedlot. Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs were used (8 animals in each production system). The experimental design was completely randomized, with three production systems and eight replications. The production systems were: pasture of Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana, without shading + feed supplementation (Pasture); pasture of Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana, with natural shading provided by the native laurel tree (Cordia trichotoma) + feed supplementation (Silvopastoral) and feedlot. The cold carcass weight, empty body weight, cold carcass yield, fat color, fat consistency and carcass compactness index showed significant differences (P &lt; 0.05) between production systems, with higher values observed in the feedlot. The shoulder weight and the percentage of shoulder components (bones, muscle, fat and others), did not significantly differ (P &gt; 0.05) between production systems. The pasture silvopastoral systems presented similar results and also, when contrasted with the feedlot system, did not influence the parameters related to meat. Feedlot provided better quantitative and qualitative characteristics to the lambs’ carcassess.

Carcass characteristics of farmed fallow deer bucks

Carcass characteristics of farmed fallow deer bucks

Carcass characteristics of rabbits raised in the semi-arid region of Nigeria

Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of male and female rabbits raised in the semi-arid condition.Methods and Results: Twenty-four (24) rabbits, comprising of 12 bucks and 12 does, were used for this study. At 12 weeks of age, the rabbits were weighed and slaughtered. Parameters measured include; pre-slaughter weight (kg), hot carcass weight (g), four primal cut weights (shoulder, ribs, loin and rump), internal organs weight (liver, lungs, kidneys, hearts, stomach and intestines). Sex had non-significant effects on the pre-slaughter, hot carcass and the four primal cuts weights (shoulder, ribs, loin and rump).Conclusion: Conclusively, sexual dimorphism existed in the weights of the internal organs such as; liver, lungs, kidneys and intestines where female rabbits had higher weights. However, the pre-slaughter, hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump weights were not significantly affected by sex, implying that any of the sex could be safely utilize for meat production. Pre-slaughter weight was positively correlated with the weights of hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump while negatively correlated with liver, stomach and intestine.Significance and Impact of Study: Pre-slaughter weight could be use as selection criterion for improvement of carcass quality in rabbits.

Performance, blood indices and carcass yield of grower rabbits fed diet containing , and leaf meals Moringa oleifera Aspilia africana Azadirachta indica

The experiment was conducted to examine the effect of feeding varying dietary levels of Moringa oleifera meal (MOM), Aspilia africana meal (AAM) and Azadirachta indica meal (AIM) on performance, blood indices and carcass yield of grower rabbits. Eight one rabbits were grouped into 9 treatment, each treatment were replicated thrice, containing 3 rabbits per replicate. Diets containing MOM, AAM and AIM at 0, 15 and 30% respectively were formulated. Rabbits fed inclusion levels of 15%, 30% MOM and 15% AAM (4.92g, 4.90g and 4.95 g respectively) had the best feed conversion ratio. However, the inclusion of 30% MOM in the diet increased the weight gain and better protein intake. The nitrogen intake, nitrogen absorbed and retention followed the same trend. Inclusion levels of the leaves had no negative effect on the blood indices of rabbit fed the dietary treatments. Rabbits on 30% MOM had significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher slaughtered weight (1,224.3 g), carcass weight (902.64 g), dressing percentage (61.58%), loin (194.20 g) and shoulder (193.05 g) weights. It was concluded that inclusion of 30% MOM in the diet of grower rabbit had the best performance.

Effect of Gender on Growth and Carcass Traits of Romney Marsh Lambs

The aim of present study was to assess the effect of the gender on growth and carcass traits in lambs of the Romney Marsh breed. The experimental animals were male lambs (n = 12) and female lambs (n = 12) of the Romney Marsh breed. All lambs were twins and all their mothers were on the second parity. With regard to body weights and daily gains (DGs), the gender had a significant effect only on birth weight and DG from birth to the slaughter, while in all monitored intervals the DGs were higher in male lambs (MLs). The lamb gender did not have a significant effect on the easy of lambing, body condition score, depth of musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis (DMLLT) and thickness of backfat (TBF). However, values for DMLLT and TBF were higher in female lambs (FLs), which in case of DMLLT was not expected. Regarding the carcass traits, the gender had a significant effect only on the weights of kidney, kidney fat, leg and shoulder and on the proportions of kidney fat and shoulder. Interestingly, the gender had no significant effect on the conformation and fatness, while slightly better carcass conformation and slightly higher fatness were found in FLs. It can be concluded that FLs of the Romney Marsh breed showed comparable values for both the growth and carcass traits with MLs. Moreover, a slightly higher fatness of FLs is a prerequisite for better juiciness and tenderness of their meat, when this fact can be considered as a benefit in the marketing.

Growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs fed with increasing levels of spineless cactus

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inclusion of the spineless cactus variety Miúda (0, 150, 300, and 450 g/kg) on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Forty crossbred Santa Inês lambs with an initial weight of 18.6 ± 2.8 kg were distributed in a randomized design with initial body weight as a covariate. There was a quadratic effect on dry matter, and metabolizable energy intake with the maximum points with the inclusion of the spineless cactus of 243 and 284 g/day, respectively. While the digestible crude protein intake did not differ. The average daily gain increased linearly. There was a quadratic effect on body weight at slaughter, empty body weight, hot carcass yield, and cold carcass yield with maximum values estimated with 265, 299, 254, and 285 g/kg of spineless cactus inclusion. The hot and cold carcass yields, the weights of shoulder, rib, leg, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, perirenal fat, and carcass compactness index increased. Chemical and physical meat quality traits were not affected; however, the oleic acid, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), MUFA and saturated fatty acids (SFA) ratio (MUFA/SFA), hypocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fatty acids ratio (h:H), and desirable fatty acids increased linearly, while heptadecanoic, cisvaccenic, transvaccenic, linoleic, eicosapentaenoic acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFA/SFA ratio, the total of omega 3 and omega 6 presented quadratic behavior, with maximum values estimated with levels of 255, 245, 380, 298, 217, 238, 250, 233, and 243 g/kg of spineless cactus. The inclusion of spineless cactus up to 275 g/kg in the diet of lambs improved carcass traits and the desirable fatty acids’ profile of the meat.

A Novel Approach for the Detection of Geometric- and Weight-Related FSW Tool Wear Using Stripe Light Projection

Friction stir welding (FSW) has become an up-and-coming joining method with a wide range of industrial applications. Besides the unique weld seam properties, recent investigations have focused on the process-related tool wear of shoulder and probe, which can have detrimental economic and technological effects. This paper presents a systematic quantitative characterization of FSW tool wear using stripe light projection as a novel method to detect weight and form deviations of shoulder and probe. The investigations were carried out with a robotic welding setup in which AA-6060 T66 sheets, with a thickness of 8 mm, were joined by weld seams up to a total length of 80 m. During the experimental tests, geometrical deviations of the tool induced by wear were detected for varying weld seam lengths and different measuring points on the probe and shoulder. It was shown that wear depended on welding length which in turn caused significant deviations and weight losses on shoulder and probe. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the wear on shoulder and probe can be considered separately. It was found that there is a progressive wear rate on the shoulder and a degressive wear rate on the probe depending on the weld seam length. To demonstrate the negative impact of tool wear on shoulder and probe after 80 m weld seam length, visual and metallographic inspections and tensile tests were carried out to detect resultant irregularities in the weld seam.

The Influence of Dietary Betaine Supplementation of Ossimi Rams on: (B) Carcass Characteristics

Eighteen Ossimi rams of about 40.63 kg body weight were used to evaluate the impacts of betaine supplementation on carcass characteristics of Ossimi rams. Animals were assigned randomly to three treatment groups (CO, BET1 and BET2), the control group was fed a BET free diet while BET1 and BET2 groups received 2.0 and 4.0g BET/h/d for 120 days experimental period. three rams from each group were slaughtered at the end of the experiment. The results revealed that, BET2 group increased (P≤0.05) fasting and empty weight compared with BET1 and control groups. Hot carcass and carcass weight without tail tended to be heavier in BET treated rams than control. Betaine supplementation led to improve the dressing percentage compared with control. Carcass measurements influenced significantly due to feeding on betaine. A significant increase in weights of liver and sex organs of BET2 than BET1 and control diets. Fed betaine caused a significant (P≤0.05) lower in carcass fats than control. Testicular morphology increased (P≤0.05) in treated animals. BET2 were higher (P≤0.05) leg weight and length than control. Weights of shoulder, fore shank and breast were heavier (P≤0.05) in BET2 than BET1 and control groups. Betaine supplementation increased (P≤0.05) weights of 9,10 and 11 ribs cut and muscle weight and lower (P≤0.05) fat and bone weight compared with control. All individual skeletal muscle measurements were higher in rams fed on BET than control. No significant differences among treatments on chemical composition of muscles. In conclusion, betaine supplementation may improve carcass characteristics of treated rams.

PSXIII-24 Effect of wet versus dry feeding on digestibility, growing performance, carcass composition, and meat eating quality of finishing pigs

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding finishing pigs either dry (DF) feed (sorghum-soybean meal based diet; 16% CP, 3200 kcal ME/kg) or wet (WF; 1water:1DF) on digestibility, growing performance, carcass composition, and meat eating quality. Sixteen (Yorkshire-Landrace x Duroc) crossbred pigs (68.4 ± 2.4 kg initial BW) were individually housed and randomly assigned (4 barrows and 4 gilts) to the dietary treatments (n = 8) for five weeks. Feed was offered daily in two portions at 0800 and 1500 h. BW and feed intake were measured weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Digestibility was measured on week 5 after quantitatively collecting fresh feces during 24 h. After slaughtering, carcass measurements were recorded, and chemical composition and eating quality was analyzed in samples of loin taken at 10th to 12th rib. Results were statistically analyzed with SPSS for a completely randomized design with 2 treatments and mean comparisons were performed using Tukey. Digestibility of DM, OM, and energy was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for DF than WF. Final BW (108.4 vs 101.9 kg) and ADG (1.043 vs. 0. 990 kg/d, respectively) was higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for WF than DF. DF-fed pigs ate less at week 5 and had less G:F at week 3 than WF-fed pigs (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Hot and cold carcasses and ham were heavier (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in WF-fed pigs. Loin, rib, and shoulder weights were similar between treatments. Dietary treatment had no effect (P &amp;gt; 0.05) on the protein, ash, and carbon content, water retention, and pH of meat. Values of hardness, and chewiness in the meat were lower (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for pigs fed WF. In conclusion, finishing pigs fed WF had better growth performance, and heavier carcasses, but similar meat characteristics relative to pigs fed DF.

PSVIII-37 Estimation of genetic parameters for novel meat quality and carcass traits in Duroc pigs

Abstract In recent years, swine breeding programs have turned their selection attentions from focusing mostly on growth, feed efficiency and percent fat towards including meat quality and carcass traits with aims to efficiently produce nutritious and tasty meat to attend a growing demand for pork. In this context, the success of genetic selection for such traits relies on several factors, especially the heritability (h2) of the traits included in the selection indexes. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for seven meat quality and carcass traits in Duroc pigs, including: meat lightness (L*), loin pH (pH), marbling (MARB), untrimmed belly weight (UBLW), untrimmed ham weight (UHW), untrimmed loin weight (ULW), and untrimmed shoulder weight (USW). Phenotypic measurements were collected on 2,857 purebred Duroc gilts from a Terminal Sire line. The pedigree-based relationship matrix included 5,316 animals and genetic parameters were estimated using univariate models under the REML approach. The traits studied here were shown to be moderately to highly heritable (h2 estimates were 0.32, 0.42, 0.47, 0.35, 0.24, 0.28, and 0.28 for L*, pH, MARB, UBLW, UHW, ULW, and USW, respectively). Our findings suggest that these traits are under genetic control, and thus, they can be genetically improved if included in selection schemes. The next step will be to estimate the genetic correlation between those traits (among themselves and with other traits), as well as alternatives to efficiently incorporate these traits in the selection indexes.

Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Conventionally and Organically Reared Suckling Dairy Goat Kids of the Payoya Breed

Abstract The viability of conventional goat farms, such as the native Payoya dairy goat, could be improved by switching to organic production, but product quality needs to be ensured. The present work assesses the carcass and meat quality of Payoya kids raised under conventional and organic grazing-based systems. Twenty-four kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from each system (n = 48). The slaughter live weight (8.52 vs. 8.28 kg), cold carcass weight (4.44 vs. 4.29 kg) and farm dressing percentage (51.7 vs. 50%) of the conventionally raised kids were significantly higher than those of the organic kids. The shoulder (first category) (21.7 vs. 22.3%) and long leg (32 vs. 32.9%) percentages were lower in the conventional than in the organic kids. The percentage contribution of the intermuscular fat (10.70 vs. 8.11%) to the shoulder weight was greater in the conventional kids, while the percentages of muscle (59.7 vs. 57.2%) and bone (24.7 vs. 22.8%) were higher in the organic kids. For the chemical composition, there were only differences between the two sexes in the percentage of fat (6.64 and 7.99% on dry matter, for male and female, respectively). For rheological variables, only differences were found in the water holding capacity (% water expelled), the meat of the organic females had a higher value (17%) than that of the conventional females (14%). For the meat colour, the conventional male kids returned the highest values for C* and Hº (14.32 and 64.34, respectively). Farms following conventional grazing-based management could easily switch to organic production. Most of the meat and carcass quality variables studied were very similar across the systems.

The influence of operator and wheelchair factors on wheelchair propulsion effort

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the relative influence of operator and wheelchair factors on propulsion effort during over-ground wheelchair manoeuvres.Method: This observational study included 23 full-time manual wheelchair users and 13 able-bodied subjects. The operator factors included shoulder position, aerobic capacity and propulsion strength. The wheelchair factors included system mass, weight distribution, and frictional loss in straight and turning trajectories. The performance of over-ground manoeuvres was defined as the propulsion effort measured by VO2 as operators propelled along a modified figure-8 course on tile and carpet surfaces.Results: According to our regression model, shoulder position was the only significant contributor within operator factors, whereas weight distribution was the only significant contributor within wheelchair factors in influencing propulsion efforts. When combining operator and mechanical factors in the regression model, weight distribution became the only significant contributor to influence propulsion effort.Conclusion: Weight distribution and shoulder position had a significant influence on propulsion effort. These variables are related to the operator’s relationship to the drive wheels. However, system mass and muscle strength had the least influence on wheelchair manoeuvres. Our finding can help clinicians to improve wheelchair configurations and manufacturers to improve wheelchair design by understanding the importance of shoulder position and weight distribution.Implication for rehabilitationStudying wheelchair manoeuvers by considering both wheelchair and operator factors might provide a unique insight to address the complex interactions among wheelchair designs and users.Propulsion effort decreases as percentage weight is increased on the drive wheels and the shoulder becomes more aligned with the axle position, which highlights the need to optimize wheelchair axle position.Wheelchair configuration, as represented by weight distribution, had a more significant influence on everyday manoeuvre than wheelchair mass does.It is essential for wheelchair users to choose a wheelchair that can match their daily needs and anthropometric measurements for saving propulsion efforts.

Effect of linseed supplementation level and feeding duration on performance, carcass and meat quality of cull ewes

Abstract The effects of linseed supplementation level (LSL: 5%, 10% or 15%) and feeding duration (FD: 30, 50 or 70 days) were analysed on productive, carcass and meat quality parameters using 72 cull ewes (n = 8 for each group), to improve their commercial value and meat quality. Both LSL and FD influenced productive parameters, carcass and meat quality. Feeding duration affected final body condition score (P