Carcass and offal yields of sheep and goats as influenced by market class and breed Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Sheep and goats (n=120) of two market classes and five breeds were slaughtered and weights of carcass and offal items were obtained. Offal item yields were computed as percentages of live weight minus weight of gastro-intestinal tract and its contents. Sheep weighed more (P < 0.05), dressed higher (P < 0.05) and had lower (P < 0.05) yields of most dress-off items than goats of comparable market class. Aged female and young intact male sheep or goats (within species) differed (P < 0.05) in heart, liver, blood and pelt yields; within breeds, aged female and young intact males did not differ (P < 0.05) in live or carcass weights, dressing percentage or lung percentage. Angora goats dressed lower (P < 0.05) than Spanish goats. Karakul sheep dressed higher (P < 0.05) than all other breeds of sheep and had higher (P < 0.05) carcass weights and lower (P < 0.05) head percentages. Data of this study emphasize importance of consideration of yields of all offal items that can be used as food rather than simply basing live value of sheep and (or) goats on quantitative or qualitative aspects of their carcasses when decisions regarding species, breed or market class are to be made for other parts of the world. 1989.

published proceedings

  • Small Ruminant Research

author list (cited authors)

  • Riley, R. R., Savell, J. W., Shelton, M., & Smith, G. C.

citation count

  • 24

complete list of authors

  • Riley, RR||Savell, JW||Shelton, M||Smith, GC

publication date

  • September 1989