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Breed and sex differences among equally mature sheep and goats 6. Breed correlations for body composition and food conversion efficiency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. S. Taylor ,
J. I. Murray  and
M. L. Thonney
C. S. Taylor
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiolgy and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
J. I. Murray
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiolgy and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
M. L. Thonney
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiolgy and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
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Abstract

Breed means are given for 40 traits relating to food conversion efficiency and body composition at the same stage of maturity in seven breeds of sheep and a feral goat breed. In terms of breed means, food intake and food conversion efficiency were genetically correlated, as were most traits associated with fatness or leanness.

Highly inter-correlated measures of breed fatness were proportion of fat in the carcass, proportion of total carcass fat found in the rib plus loin, the fat : muscle ratio and the lipid concentration in the dry matter of all tissues except bone. Dressing proportion was highly correlated with all these measures of fatness.

Breeds with a high proportion of subcutaneous fat did not necessarily have a low proportion of intra-abdominal fat. A low proportion of carcass fat in the rib plus loin was associated with a high proportion in the shoulder (inter-breed correlation —0·7): both were measures of leanness. Muscle : bone ratio was not correlated with fatness or leanness. Slower maturing, larger breeds had slightly more bone, less fat and more lean in their higher-priced cuts. Breeds with heavier fleeces were fatter (0·7). The food conversion efficiency of a breed was largely independent of its body composition.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 49 , Issue 3 , December 1989 , pp. 423 - 434
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1989

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References

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