Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXI, Issue 1
Written by Laurenția DUMAN, Ion RĂDUCUȚĂ, Alexandru MARIN, Ana-Maria CIUREA, Ion CĂLIN
The paper aim to present the variation of body parts and the main characteristics of carcasses obtained from sheep youth of the Tsigai breed and crossbred (German Blackheaded breed x Tsigai breed) fattened in intensive system. The intensive fattening experiment developed over a 100-day time period was performed on Tsigai young male sheep (lot 1), and young male sheep crossbred German Blackheaded (GBH) x Tsigai (lot 2). The two batches of animals subjected under fattening were made up of 12 heads each. At the end of experiment were slaughtered 5 animals from each lot. The subjective assessment of the carcasses through the SEUROP classification system after conformation and the fattening status led to framing in a superior classification of carcasses provided from the crossbreds compared to those obtained from Tsigai breed. The warm carcass weight in crossbred and Tsigai breed recorded average values of 19.04 kg at GBH x Tsigai and 16.95 kg at Tsigai breed, with distinctly significant difference to the advantage of the GBH x Tsigai (+2.09 kg, p <0.01). Also, distinctly significant differences in favor of the batch GBH x Tsigai (+2.10 kg) were recorded regarding the cold carcass weights compared with the Tsigai breed batch. Regarding the main cut sections of carcass from young sheep submitted to intensive fattening, the crossbred lot recorded greater average values (in particular in the cuts of first quality - pulp and cutlet) compared to the Tsigai breed lot. In conclusion, the assessment of the carcasses according to subjective and objective methods highlights a higher potential of meat production and of better quality at GBH x Tsigai lot, compared with the Tsigai breed lot.
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