Sire carcass breeding values affect body composition in lambs--2. Effects on fat and bone weight and their distribution within the carcass as measured by computed tomography

F Anderson; A Williams; L Pannier; D W Pethick; G E Gardner

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.02.013

Sire carcass breeding values affect body composition in lambs--2. Effects on fat and bone weight and their distribution within the carcass as measured by computed tomography

Meat Sci. 2016 Jun:116:243-52. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.02.013. Epub 2016 Feb 23.

Authors

F Anderson¹, A Williams², L Pannier², D W Pethick², G E Gardner²

Affiliations

¹ Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. Electronic address: F.Anderson@murdoch.edu.au.
² Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

PMID: 26914513
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.02.013

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of paternal Australian Sheep Breeding Values for post weaning c-site eye muscle depth (PEMD) and fat depth (PFAT), and post weaning weight (PWWT) on the composition of lamb carcasses. Composition was measured using computed tomography scans of 1665 lambs which were progeny of 85 Maternal, 115 Merino and 155 Terminal sires. Reducing sire PFAT decreased carcass fat weight by 4.8% and increased carcass bone by 1.3% per unit of PFAT (range 5.1 mm). Increasing sire PEMD reduced carcass fat weight by 3.8% in Maternal and 2% in Terminal sired lambs per unit of PEMD (range 4.3 and 7.8 mm), with no impact on bone. Increasing sire PWWT reduced carcass fat weight, but only at some experimental locations. Differences in composition varied between sire types with Maternal sired lambs having the most fat and Merino sired lambs the greatest bone weight. Genetic effects on fatness were greater than the environmental or production factor effects, with the converse true of bone.

Keywords: Bone; Breeding value; Computed tomography; Fat; Lamb.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology*
Animals
Body Composition / genetics*
Body Composition / physiology
Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology*
Breeding
Male
Muscle, Skeletal / anatomy & histology*
Sheep / anatomy & histology*
Sheep / genetics
Sheep / physiology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary*