Physical Separation and Prediction Equations to Assess the Effect of Slaughter Weight on the Distribution of Lean, Fat and Bone in Merino Wethers Carcasses

ABSTRACT: Forty five imported Australian Merino wethers were equally allotted to three prescribed weight groups of 52, 58 and 65 kg, and slaughtered to compare the effect of slaughter weight on the distribution of lean, fat and bone weight among the wholesale cuts. The results indicated that, the lean weight in leg, shoulder, loin and breast and shank cuts increased nonsignificantly as an average slaughter weight increased from 52 to 58 kg and significantly (P<0.01) from 58 to 65 kg. The dissected fat weight in the wholesale cuts increased significantly (P<0.01) with increased slaughter weight. The results also showed that as slaughter weight increased, bone weight increased in a variable trends reflecting the different rates of development among the studied cuts. The correlation coefficients between lean and bone weight in cold half carcass and the corresponding tissue weights in leg cut, and between fat weight in cold half carcass and the fat weight in loin cut were the highest among the other calculated coefficients.

Abouheif, M. A., Y. Al-Haowas and M. N. Bakkar (1991). J. King Saud Univ., Agric. Sci., 3: 17- 27.