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Mature body composition of the Gallego sheep breed of Galicia (north-west Spain)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

M. R. Cropper  and
N. Diaz
M. R. Cropper
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Apartado de Correos 10, 15080 A Corunha, Spain
N. Diaz
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Apartado de Correos 10, 15080 A Corunha, Spain
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Extract

Taylor (1980) indicated the importance of mature size in the description of animals and its usefulness for standardising growth parameters. The mature size and body composition of the Gallego breed, a small meat-producing type first described by Mason (1967), have never been estimated under defined management conditions. Therefore, using the scaling rules and results of Thonney, Taylor, Murray and McClelland (1987) as a guide, a study was made to determine whether the reputation of Gallego lambs for producing lean carcases was borne out in the composition of mature animals.

Twenty-one ewes (mean liveweight, LW, 32.7, sd 5.4 kg) and eight rams (LW 47.6, sd 8.6 kg) were selected as cast animals on the basis of age ( >4 years), body condition score (BCS, >1.75), health and teeth status and group-fed on concentrate (180 g crude protein/ kg dry-matter) and hay ad libitum. LW was measured fortnightly. When all animals had a LW and BCS which were stable for 2 months, 3 subgroups were slaughtered monthly. Weights of wool, body organs and hot carcase (HC) were recorded. Dissection of the cold carcase (CC) into commercial joints (Cabrero Poveda, 1984) and total lean, bone and fat.

Type
Carcass and Meat Quality
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1992 , March 1992 , pp. 179
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1992

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References

Cabrero Poveda, M. (1984) Colección Tesis Doctorales, INIA No. 47Google Scholar
Hammond, J. (1932) Growth and Development of Mutton Qualities in Sheep.Google Scholar
Mason, I. (1967). Sheep Breeds of the Mediterranean.Google Scholar
Taylor|C. (1980) Anim. Prod. 30: 161–165.Google Scholar
Thonney, M. Taylor, C, Murray, J and McClelland, H. (1987) Anim. Prod. 45: 261–276.Google Scholar