title: Carcase weight and dressing percentage are increased using Australian Sheep Breeding Values for increased weight and muscling and reduced fat depth.
abstract: Pre-slaughter live weight, dressing percentage, and hot standard carcase weight (HCWT) from the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 birth-years of the Information Nucleus Flock Lambs (n=7325) were analysed using linear mixed effects models. Increasing the sire breeding value for post-weaning weight (PWWT), and c-site eye muscle depth (PEMD), and reducing the sire breeding value for fat depth (PFAT) all had positive impacts on HCWT. The magnitude of the PWWT effect was greater in pure bred Merinos compared to Maternal and Terminal sired progeny. The improved HCWT resulting from increased PEMD was entirely due to its impact on improving dressing percentage, given that it had no impact on pre-slaughter live weight. There were marked differences between sire types and dam breeds, with pure-bred Merinos having lower pre-slaughter weight, reduced dressing percentage, and lower HCWT than progeny from Terminal and Maternal sired lambs or progeny from Maternal (1st cross) dams.
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Western Australia 6150, Australia. Electronic address: G.Gardner@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; University of New England, Meat & Livestock Australia, New South Wales 2351, Australia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia 6151, Australia.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales 2974, Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Refshauge
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; South Australian Research & Development Institute, South Australia 5271, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hocking Edwards
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria 3300, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.affiliation: Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, Australia; Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Pethick
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D012756:Sheep; D014886:Weaning
keywords: Genetic; Lamb; Live weight; Maturity; Sire breed