Performance and carcass characteristics of lambs SPRD crossbreed with Santa Inês and Somalis Brasileira feedlot finished

Abstract

We evaluated the growth performance and quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of crossbred lambs meat (½ undefined breed - SPRD x ½ Santa Inês - SI and ½ SPRD x ½ Somalis Brasileira - SB) finished in feedlot. We used 16 lambs weaned males, intact, with an initial weight of 19.7 ± 2.0 kg and about three months old. We adopted the design of randomized blocks, with blocks represented by the initial weight ranges for each genetic group evaluated (½ SPRD x ½ SI and ½ SPRD x ½ SB), with eight replicates in each group. Sheep ½ SPRD x ½ SI had higher average daily weight gain, total weight gain, length and head ham, carcass internal length, weight and yield of the hindquarter, weights and performance of non-carcass components (lung and trachea, liver, kidney, head and feet). ½ SPRD x ½ SB showed higher values for body condition scores initial and final fat thickness, degree of finish, initial pH and final. In this study, crossbred ½ SPRD x ½ SI lambs is a promising alternative to obtaining of production systems more efficient considering the superiority of weight gain and carcass characteristics related to morphometric measurements, cut meat diet hacksaw and non-carcass components in the ½ SPRD x ½ SB animals. However, SPRD ½ x ½ SB lambs feature superiority as the conservation aspects of carcass and in the case of markets with preference for carcass with higher fat content.