Meat Performance of hybrid ram lambs with different shares of a

Arch. Tierz., Dummerstorf 44 (2001) Special Issue, 370-376
Department of Shetp & Goat Breeding, Agricultural University Lublin, Poland
CZESLAWA LIPECKA, TOMASZ M. GRUSZECKI, MIROSLAW PIETA,
ANNA SZYMANOWSKA, KRZYSZTOF PATKOWSKI, MAREK SZYMANOWSKI
and ANDRZEJ JUNKUSZEW
Meat Performance of hybrid ram lambs with different shares of a
prolific breed
Summary
The aim of this study was to evaluate the slaughter value of hybrid ram lambs Coming from one-, two- and threeway crossings. The animal material consisted of 64 two-breed hybrids with 50% share of the Polish Lowland
sheep and 50% of one of four prolific breeds (Olkuska, Merino Booroola, Romanov and Finnsheep) in their
genotype, as well as three-breed hybrids (85 animals) of the Polish Lowland sheep with 25% or 12.5% share of
one of the above mentioned prolific breeds and having respectively a 50 or 75% share of the Suffolk breed. All
ram lambs were weaned at the age of 70 days and fattened ad libitum with all-mash supplemented with hay. After
reaching the body weight of 31-32 kg, the lambs were slaughtered, and their carcasses were subjected to
slaughter analysis. It was found that regardless of the prolific breed and its share in the genotype, the dressing
percentage of the investigated animals ranged from 45.3 to 48.99%. Conformation of carcass (EUROP grade)
indicated the beneficial effect of the Suffolk breed on that trait. Results of detailed carcass dissection revealed
that the prolific breed share did not affect the tissue composition in the carcasses of the hybrids. The most
advantageous tissue composition was observed in the animals having the Olkuska breed share in their genotype.
Key Words: sheep, meat Performance, prolific breeds
Zusammenfassung
Titel der Arbeit: Schlachtwert von männlichen Kreuzungslämmern mit unterschiedlichem Genanteil
fruchtbarkeitsbetonter Rassen
Ziel der Untersuchung war die Bestimmung des Schlachtwertes von Lämmern aus ein-, zwei- und dreistufiger
Kreuzung. Das Tiermaterial bildeten 64 Lammböcke mit 50% Genanteil des Polnischen Tieflandsschafes und
50% Genanteil einer der folgenden vier fruchtbarkeitsbetonten Rassen: Olkuska, Booroola Merino, Romanov
und Finnschaf. Weitere 85 Kreuzungslämmer hatten entweder 25% oder 12,5% Genanteil des Polnischen
Tieflandschafes und 25% oder 12,5% Genanteil einer der o.g. Fruchtbarkeitsrassen sowie 50 bis 75%
Suffolkgenanteil. Alle Lammböcke wurden von den Müttern im Alter von 70 Tagen abgesetzt und mit einem
Konzentratalleinfutter ad libitum gefuttert, welches durch Heu ergänzt wurde. Bei einer Endmasse von 31-32 kg
wurden die Tiere geschlachtet, und die Schlachtkörper der Untersuchung unterzogen. Ohne Berücksichtigung des
Anteils der fruchtbarkeitsbetonten Rasse variierte die Schlachtausbeute der untersuchten Tiere von 45,3 bis
48,99%. Suffoik hatte einen gunstigen Einfluss auf die Bemuskelung (EUROP) der Schlachtkörper. Der Anteil
der fruchtbarkeitsbetonten Rasse blieb ohne Einfluss auf die gewebliche Zusammensetzung der Schlachtkörper.
Die günstigste Gewebezusammensetzung war bei Tieren zu beobachten, die einen Genanteil des Olkuska-Schafes
hatten.
Schlüsselwörter: Schafe, Schlachtwert, fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rassen
Introduction
Polish sheep breeding directed towards the slaughter lambs production caused not only
gradual change of breed structure of Polish sheep population, but also forced breeders
to apply new technologies. Due to economical reasons, level of ewe reproduction
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Performance along with gains, fodder utilization, quantity and quality of meat tissue,
play an important role (BORYS and OSIKOWSKI, 1996; LIPECKA et al., 1999). At
local sheep breeds, that trait value is relatively low amounting to about 1.0-1.3 lambs
reared by a single mother annually (LIPECKA and SZYMANOWSKA, 2000).
Crossbreeding the local population with prolific breed rams could be the Solution. Such
procedure is applied during two-step commercial crossbreeding. At the first stage,
hybrids of 50% prolific breed in genotype are produced. Then hybrid ewes
characterized with high parameters referring to reproduction Performance are directed
to crossbreeding with rams of meat breeds. However, rams are subjected to the
slaughter, but not always they are valuable slaughter material (FAHMY, 1995;
GRUSZECK1 and LIPECKA, 1997; OSIKOWSKI and BORYS, 1996). Creation the
new populations using prolific breeds is another way to improve the effectiveness of
slaughter lamb production.
It is necessary to evaluate the slaughter value of hybrids with different share of prolific
breeds in order to analyze the Solutions under discussion. Those study results could be
useful not only in commercial herds but also during creation the synthetic prolific-meat
populations.
Facing to the production needs, studies aiming to evaluate the slaughter value of
hybrids having different share of Polish Lowland Sheep (PL), four prolific and meat
Suffolk (S) breeds in genotype were undertaken.
Material and Methods
The experiment was carried out in sheep-house of The Experimental Station, Bezek
(University of Agriculture, Lublin property) in 1993-1999. In total, 149 two-breed and
three-breed rams (the latter with different breed share) were subjected to analyses.
Two-breed hybrids (LO, LB, LR and LF groups) were produced due to crossbreeding
the Polish Lowland Sheep mothers (L) with rams of four prolific breeds: Olkuska (O),
Merino-Booroola (B), Romanov (R) and Finnsheep (F). Three-breed hybrids with 25%
share of prolific breed (LOS, LBS, LRS and LFS groups) were obtained by means of
crossbreeding the above ewes with Suffolk (S) rams. Then, due to the following
crossbreeding the three-breed hybrids with Suffolk breed, generation of three-breed
hybrids of 12.5% prolific breed share, was created (LOSS, LBSS and LRSS groups).
LFSS group was not analyzed because of independent reasons.
All rams were reared under the same conditions. They were weaned from mothers at
the age of 70 days and fed ad libitum with full-dose concentrate mixture completed
with structural hay addition. After gaining 31-32 kg of body weight, slaughtering, and
cooling for 24 hours, carcasses were classified according to EUROP grade and
measurements of fat thickness over „sirloin eye" and ribs were made. All carcasses
were subjected to detailed dissection according to methodology by The National
Institute of Animal Production, Cracow.
Results were statistically elaborated using variance analysis according to least Square
means (HARVEY, 1987). Separate calculations for groups of various prolific breed
share taking into account the genotype, birth type and interaction effects, were made in
one system. The influence of prolific share breed in genotype (50%, 25%, 12.5%),
birth type and interaction was considered in another calculation system. Due to the fact
372
that birth type and interactions were not significant in any case studied, only population
(n), least Square means (LSM) and Standard errors (SE) were listed in Tables.
Table
Dressing percentage and carcass quality of ram lambs (Schlachtausbeute und Schlachtkörper qualität der
Bocklämmer)
Fat thickness (Fettdicke) /mm/
Dressing
EUROP /points (Punkte)/
percentage
Genotype
fatness
over
mld
over
ribs
«Information
(Schlachtausn
(Genotyp)
(über mld)
(über Rippen)
(Bemuskelung)
(Verfettung)
beute) /%/
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
50% prolific breec (50% fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rasse)
LO
20
47.70A
0.58
1.93
0.21
4.42Aa
0.51
2.42
0.18
1.30A"
0.21
LB
13
45.26ABC
0.68
2.34
0.24
5.83
0.60
2.90
0.22
1.93B
0.25
LR
15
48.54°
0.70
2.38
0.25
6.43"
0.61
2.52
0.22
2.01 c *
0.25
LF
16
48.99 c
0.62
2.27
0.22
6.17A
0.54
2.42
0.20
3.80ABC
0.23
25% prolific breed (25% fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rasse)
LOS
21
47.29
0.54
2.17
0.19
4.99
0.47
2.19
0.17
2.83*
0.20
LBS
12
47.27
0.70
1.99
0.25
6.07
0.61
2.03
0.22
3.14
0.26
LRS
12
47.95
0.73
2.38
0.26
6.44
0.64
2.38
0.23
3.50"
0.27
LFS
5
48.35
1.33
1.88
0.47
6.00
1.17
2.00
0.42
3.13
0.49
12.5% prolific breed (12.5% fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rasse)
LOSS
15
47.18
1.26
2.00
0.45
5.00
1.11
2.56
0.40
3.00
0.46
LBSS
10
47.81
0.82
2.36
0.29
6.57
0.72
2.10
0.26
3.07
0.30
LRSS
10
48.55
0.94
2.31
0.34
5.63
0.83
2.00
0.30
3.13
0.34
**•• Means in side group designated with the same letters differ significantiy at:
capital letters P< 0.01; small lelters P< 0.05
*" (Die Durchschnitte in den Spalten innerhalb der Gruppen, die mit denselben Buchstaben
gekennzeichnet sind, unterscheiden sich statistisch signifikant:
große Buchstaben PS 0,01; kleine Buchstaben PS 0,05)
Results and Discussion
Results presented in Tables 1 and 2 point that meat Performance of two-breed ramhybrids originated from Polish Lowland Sheep depended on prolific breed applied for
crossbreeding. Rams with Merino-Booroola share in genotype (LB) were characterized
373
with significantiy lowest slaughter efficiency (45.26%) as compared to other hybrids.
Difference equaled 2.44-3.73% at similar Standard error values was highly significant
for LO, LR and LF advantage. The highest dressing percentage was observed in ram
group with Finnsheep breed share (48.99%), but their carcasses were very adiposed.
However, for LO hybrids, carcasses were significantiy less adiposed at 47.7% dressing
percentage, which resulted in EUROP Classification.
Table 2
Carcass composition of ram lambs (Schlachtkörperzusammensetzung von Bocklämmern)
In carcass /%/ (Anteil am Schlachtkörper)
Genotype
valuable cuts
lean (Fleisch)
fat (Fett)
(Genotyp)
(wertvolle Teilstücke)
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
bone (Knochen)
LSM
SE
50% prolif ic breed (50% fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rasse)
LO
20
41.08"
0.28
63.72AB'
0.68
14.60ABCD
0.75
21.69"
0.49
LB
13
42.11"
0.33
6l.40 , b
0.80
18.43°
0.87
20.17*
0.58
LR
15
41.25
0.33
59.41A
0.82
20.26 c
0.89
20.33
0.59
LF
16
41.51
0.29
59.02Bb
0.72
20.44°
0.79
20.55
0.52
25% prolific breed (25% fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rassel
LOS
21
42.36A
0.26
61.77Aa
0.63
16.83A"
0.69
21.40A
0.45
LBS
12
42.35 B
0.33
58.15Ab
0.82
19.71"
0.90
22.14B
0.59
LRS
12
41.68
0.35
60.54b
0.86
20.10A
0.94
19.36AB*
0.62
LFS
5
40.86AB
0.64
58.20'
1.57
19.69
1.71
22.12"
1.13
12.5% prolific breed (12.5% fruchtbarkeitsbetonte Rasse)
LOSS
15
42.58
0.60
63.32A"
1.48
15.34A*
1.61
21.34
1.06
LBSS
10
41.52
0.39
56.73A
0.97
22.24A
1.06
21.03
0.70
LRSS
10
41.77
0.45
59.07'
1.11
20.27"
1.21
20.66
**"• Means in sitegrou ) designated with the stme letters liffcr
< significantiy a : capita letters Ps0.01;sm all letters PS 0.05
0.80
Valuable cut contents in carcasses of hybrids with 50% share of prolific breeds ranged
from 41.1% to 42.1%, but statistically significant difference at p < 0.05 was recorded
only between LO and LB groups. Prolific breeds applied in crossbreeding more
differentiated the percentage of meat tissue and fat in carcass than the percentage of
valuable cuts and bones in carcass.
Table 3
Slauphter value of ram lambs (Schlachtkörperwert von Bocklämmern)
Prolific
Dressing
percentage
(Schlachtausbeute) l%l
breed
(fhichtbarkeitsbe-
n
LSM
Fat thickness (Fettdicke) /mm/
over mld
(über mld)
over ribs
(über Rippen)
SE
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
EUROP / points (Punkte)/
conformation
(Bemuskelung)
LSM
SE
fatness
(Verfettung)
LSM
SE
Carcass composition /%/ (Schlachtkörperzusammensetzung)
valuable cuts
(wertvolle
Teilstücke)
SE
LSM
lean (Fleisch)
fat (Fett)
bone
(Knochen)
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
LSM
SE
tonte
Rassen)
/%/
50
64
47.72
0.33
2.20
0.11
5.64
0.28
2.54*b
0.10
2.25^
0.14
41.46 A
0.15
60.97A
0.43
18.28
0.47
20.75
0.27
25
50
47.65
0.35
2.06
0.12
5.72
0.30
2.20*
0.10
3.08A
0.14
42.13 A
0.16
60.29
0.45
18.51
0.50
21.20
0.29
12.5
35
47.88
0.49
2.09
0.17
5.49
0.43
2.13"
1.05
3.03 B
0.20
41.98
0.23
58.97A
0.65
19.57
0.72
21.46
0.41
*"- Means designated with the same letters differ significantiy at: capital letters PsO.01; small letters P< 0.05
** Die Durchschnitte in den Spalten innerhalb der Gruppen, die mit denselben Buchstaben gekennzeichnet sind, unterscheiden sich statistisch
signifikant: große Buchstaben P< 0.01; kleine Buchstaben PS 0,05
375
The most meat tissue at low fat content in carcass was found in LO hybrids. The
difference referring to the percentage of meat and fat for that group advantage as
compared to LR and LF rams was statistically significant and amounted to 4.31-4.70%
and 5.66-5.84%, respectively. Those hybrids' carcasses were characterized with similar
bone tissue share.
Above results are consistent to those found by GRUSZECKI and LIPECKA (1997)
pointing to lower daily gains during fattening the hybrids with Merino-Booroola breed
share and lower slaughter efficiency as compared to Polish Lowland Sheep, and
Romanov and Olkuska hybrids. OSIKOWSKI and BORYS (1996) achieved similar
results making the crossbreeding of Polish Merino with Merino-Booroola or Romanov
sheep. They found that two-breed hybrids were distinguished by slower growth and
had worse carcass structure in relation to the initial breed. In opinion of LIPECKA et
al. (1999) and BORYS and OSIKOWSKI (1996), worse results of meat Performance
of two-breed hybrids were recompensed by their high prolificacy utilized during the
second stage of two-step crossbreeding, which significantiy improved the production
economics. Further, hybrid ewes were crossbred with Suffolk rams that completely
handed down their musculature traits to the progeny as many authors State
(GRUSZECKI, 1990).
In three-breed hybrids (Tab. 1), 25% or 12.5% share of prolific breed in genotype did
not significantiy differentiate neither the dressing percentage (47.2-48.6%), nor fat
thickness above musculus longissimus dorsi (1.9-2.4 mm) and ribs (5.0-5.66 mm). The
only significant difference at p < 0.05 was found between LOS and LRS groups in
EUROP adiposity Classification for the former advantage. Analogously as for rams
with 50% share of Olkuska breed, higher percentage of muscle tissue along with lower
content of fat in carcass was found in three-breed hybrids having 25% or 12.5% share
of Olkuska breed in relation to hybrids from other groups (Tab. 2). It is worth
mentioning that LRS and LRSS hybrids were characterized with more profitable
muscle tissue percentage in carcass than LBS, LFS and LBSS rams.
Above results are confirmed by other authors' papers where Polish Merino was the
initial breed and Suffolk, Berrichonne du Cher, Blackhead or Texel were the meat
breeds (BORYS et al., 1999; KEDRAK and LIPECKA, 2000).
Table 3 presents results of the slaughter value for hybrid progeny taking into account
only total percentage of prolific breeds in genotype when analyzed. It was found that
decreasing share of prolific breed not significantiy affected the dressing percentage, fat
thickness above m.l.d. and ribs, as well as fat and bone contents in carcass.
Classification of musculature and adiposity of carcass according to EUROP grade
revealed that hybrid carcasses had better musculature along with decreasing prolific
breed share being more adiposed at the same time. Carcass dissection confirmed such
evaluation results.
Conclusion
The analysis of data collected allow concluding that 12.5-50% share of prolific breed
in genotype of hybrids under investigations does not significantiy differentiate their
slaughter value. However, it should be underlined that among two-breed and threebreed hybrids, animals having Olkuska breed share in genotype were characterized
with the most beneficial parameters of meat Performance.
376
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Authors' address
Prof. Dr. habil. CZESLAWA LIPECKA, Prof. Dr. habil. TOMASZ M. GRUSZECKI,
Dr. habil. MIROSLAW PIETA, Dr. ANNA SZYMANOWSKA,
Dr. KRZYSZTOF PATKOWSKI, Dr. MAREK SZYMANOWSKI,
M. Sc. ANDRZEJ JUNKUSZEW
Department of Sheep & Goat Breeding, Agricultural University Lublin
Akademickal3
20-950 Lublin
Poland
E-Mail: gruszeckfaiursus.ar.lublin.ül