Effect of sex on slaughter traits and carcass measurements of Travnik pramenka sheep lambs
Authors
Valentino DRŽAIĆ
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan ŠIRIĆ
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zvonko ANTUNOVIĆ
University J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek Faculty of Agriculture in Osijek, Department for Animal Husbandry, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia
Boro MIOČ
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
The aim of this research was to determine the influence of sex on slaughter traits and carcass characteristics of Travnik pramenka sheep lambs. For that purpose, in April 2017, a total of 70 lambs of Travnik pramenka sheep were slaughtered, of which 48 male and 22 female. The lambs of Travnik pramenka sheep were raised on a family farm in Velika Peratovica, Bjelovar-Bilogora County. At age between 90 and 100 days lambs were individually weighed and slaughtered. After slaughter and standard procedures of processing, the carcasses and investigated organs were measured. The average slaughter weight of lambs measured immediately before slaughter was 21.85 kg, considering that male lambs had statistically significant (P<0.05) higher slaughter weight than female (22.47 kg : 20.38 kg). The average lamb carcass weight of 11.04 kg was determined, which was statistically significantly higher (P<0.05) in male (11.32 kg) compared to female lamb carcass (10.42). Although the dressing percentage of female lambs (51.04%) was higher than that found in male Travnik lambs (50.33%) the difference was not statistically significant. Based on determined carcass measurements of lamb carcasses, the carcasses of Travnik pramenka lambs belong to the category of light lamb carcasses.
