Effects of sex and gonadectomy on the growth and development of Southdown × Romney cross lambs. Part II. Effects on Carcass grades, Measurements and chemical composition

Abstract

The influence of sex and gonadectomy on carcass grades, measurements and chemical composition is reported from a comparative slaughter experiment involving 100 Romney x Southdown cross lambs.Grading results, although based on small numbers of carcasses, showed a tendency to down grade entire ram lamb carcasses.Linear carcass measurements indicated some differences in conformation between the four ‘sexes’, although these were somewhat inconsistent over the two slaughter ages at which measurements were recorded. Relatively larger eye muscle areas were evident for gonadectomized than for entire lambs and for males than for females. Fat cover over the eye muscle was lower for entire rams than for the other ‘sexes’.