Physiological and carcass characteristics of hair and wool breeds of sheep

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 51 - 60
• Main Authors: Horton, G.M.J., Burgher, C.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.1992
• Subjects: ABSORCION DE AGUA; ABSORPTION D'EAU; AGNEAU; BARBADOS BLACKBELLY; BLOOD; BLOOD CHEMISTRY; BLOOD COMPOSITION; BLOOD PICTURE; BLOOD PLASMA; BREED DIFFERENCES; BREEDS; CARCASS COMPOSITION; COMPOSICION DE LA CANAL; COMPOSICION DE LA SANGRE; COMPOSITION DE LA CARCASSE; COMPOSITION DU SANG; CORDERO; DIAGNOSIS; DIAGNOSTIC; DIAGNOSTICO; dorset; EFFICACITE ALIMENTAIRE; EFICIENCIA DE CONVERSION DEL PIENSO; FEED CONVERSION; FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; FEED INTAKE; GAIN DE POIDS; GANANCIA DE PESO; INGESTION DE PIENSO; katahdin; LAMBS; LIVEWEIGHT GAIN; LONGISSIMUS DORSI; MUSCLE; MUSCLES; MUSCULOS; OVIN; OVINOS; PLASMA SANGUIN; PLASMA SANGUINEO; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (ANIMAUX); RACE; RAZAS; SANG; SANGRE; SHEEP; st. croix; WATER INTAKE; WATER UPTAKE; WEIGHT GAIN
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/0921-4488(92)90067-E

Physiological, performance and carcass characteristics were studied in hair sheep (three St. Croix (SC), four Barbados Blackbelly (BB) and four Katahdin (K) and wool sheep (four Dorset (D)). Initial weights of the wether lambs ranged from 17.9 (BB) to 21.4 (D) kg. Lambs were fed a 16% CP commercial pelleted diet for 94 d. Ambient temperature averaged 20.9°C. Jugular blood samples collected on days, 1, 14, 28, 56, 70 and 84 were analyzed for hematological and blood chemistry parameters. Feed intake was higher ( P < 0.05) in D and K, and BB lambs consumed less water than D ( P < 0.05). BB gained the least weight and had the highest feed-to-rain ratio ( P < 0.05). Dressing percentage was highest ( P < 0.05) in BB and K, and D lambs had the largest ribeye area and lowest percent kidney-pelvis-heart (KPH) fat ( P < 0.05). Intramuscular fat and cholesterol were highest in K ( P < 0.05). Though significant breed effects were found in PUN, albumin, glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrit and WBC count, none exceeded normal physiological ranges. Plasma epinephrine levels were highest ( P < 0.05) in BB toward the end of the study and norepinephrine levels at the beginning were lowest ( P < 0.05) in D. There were no breed effects on plasma cortisol during the first 14 days, after which values were highest in K and lowest in SC lambs.