Effects of available nutrition and sire breeding values for growth and muscling on the development of crossbred lambs. 1: Growth and carcass characteristics
R. S. Hegarty A G , C. Shands B , R. Marchant C , D. L. Hopkins D , A. J. Ball E and S. Harden FA Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Glen Innes ARAS, Glen Innes, NSW 2370, Australia.
C NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
D NSW Department of Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Cowra, NSW 2794, Australia.
E Meat and Livestock Australia, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
F NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth Agricultural Institute, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: roger.hegarty@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(6) 593-603 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04275
Submitted: 12 November 2004 Accepted: 18 June 2005 Published: 20 June 2006
Abstract
The growth and development of 387 crossbred lamb progeny from 9 Poll Dorset sires representing muscle (M), control (C), and growth (G) sire-types was studied. Sires were selected on the basis of their LAMBPLAN estimated breeding values (EBVs) for post-weaning growth (PWWT) and depth of loin muscle (PEMD). Lambs were provided with either LOW or HIGH levels of available grazing nutrition from 10 days of age onwards. Liveweight gain (LWG) throughout the study was less on LOW nutrition than on HIGH nutrition, leading to a 9.5 kg lower weaning liveweight (LW) and a 14.9 kg lower final LW in LOW lambs. After adjustment for final LW, HIGH lambs had significantly greater fat depth at the C-site (approximately 40 mm from the midline over the 12th rib) and tissue depth at the GR site (110 mm from the midline over the 12th rib) than did LOW lambs. This effect was consistent across sire-types. Depth of fat at the C-site was positively associated with the EBV of the sire for fat depth. The improvement in pre-weaning LWG, weaning weight, and final weight of lambs resulting from use of sires with a greater PWWT EBV was dependent upon the level of nutrition. This interaction was identified as different slopes (coefficients) for the regression between PWWT and trait for the 2 nutrition levels, indicating that the expression of the sire’s genetic potential for growth at these times was significantly moderated by nutrition. The additional depth of lamb loin muscle resulting from use of sires of higher PEMD EBV was consistent across both LOW and HIGH nutrition treatments, with 1 mm of PEMD leading to a 0.6-mm increase in loin depth. Other consequences of sires having a high genetic capacity for loin muscle depth were reduced carcass C-fat depth with increasing sire PEMD and a tendency for conformation score to improve with the PEMD of the sire. The wool-growth response to improved nutrition was less in M lambs than in lambs of other sire-types, suggesting a difference in priority for protein partitioning between muscle and wool in lambs differing in genetic propensity for muscle growth.
Additional keywords: lamb, sheep, genetics, nutrition, carcass, muscling.
Acknowledgments
Semen from all sires used in this study was provided free of charge by the studs and this contribution is acknowledged with thanks. Technical support for this study was provided by Stuart McClelland, Reg Woodgate, Bill, Johns, Steve Sinclair, David Stanley, and Joe Brunner (NSW Department of Primary Industries). Thanks to Clare Edwards (NSW Department of Primary Industries) for assistance in pasture species identification and classification and thanks to Dr R. Banks, Dr R. Woolaston, and Dr A. Gilmour for assistance in preparation of the manuscript. The study was funded by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Meat and Livestock Australia under the Management Solutions Program.
Abdulkhaliq AM,
Meyer HH,
Thompson JM,
Holmes ZA,
Forsberg NE, Davis SL
(2002) Callipyge gene effects on lamb growth, carcass traits, muscle weights and meat characteristics. Small Ruminant Research 45, 89–93.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Banks R
(1995) Better genetic technology—developments in the Australian lamb industry. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 11, 48–54.
de Boer H
(1992) EC standards: Carcass classification in Europe; history and actual position. Meat Focus International 1, 365–368.
Fogarty NM,
Gilmour AR, Hopkins DL
(1997) The relationship of crossbred lamb growth and carcass traits with LAMBPLAN EBVs of sires. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 304–308.
Freking BA,
Keele JW,
Nielsen MK, Leymaster KA
(1998) Evaluation of the ovine Callipyge locus: II. Genotypic effects on growth, slaughter, and carcass traits. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2549–2559.
| PubMed |
Greenwood PL, Bell AW
(2003) Prenatal nutritional influences on growth and development of ruminants. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition in Australia 14, 57–73.
Hall DG,
Fogarty NM, Holst PJ
(1997) Valuing lamb sires—the effect of estimated breeding values for weight and fat in a declining lamb market. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 12, 355–359.
Hall DG,
Gilmour AR,
Fogarty NM, Holst PJ
(2002) Growth and carcass composition of second cross lambs. 2. Relationship between estimated breeding values of sires and their progeny performance under fast and slow growth regimes. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 1341–1348.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hegarty RS,
Hopkins DL,
Farrell TC,
Banks R, Harden S
(2006) Effects of available nutrition and sire breeding values for growth and muscling on the development of crossbred lambs. 2: Composition and commercial yield. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 617–626.
Hegarty RS,
Neutze SA, Oddy VH
(1999) Effects of protein and energy supply on the growth and carcass composition of lambs from differing nutritional histories. Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 132, 361–375.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodge RW, Star M
(1984) Comparison of the fat status of lambs during continuous growth and following nutritional restriction and subsequent re-alimentation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 24, 150–155.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hopkins DL
(1996) Assessment of lamb meat colour. Meat Focus International 5, 400–401.
Hopkins DL, Fogarty NM
(1998) Diverse lamb genotypes – 1. Yield of saleable cuts and meat in the carcass and the prediction of yield. Meat Science 49, 459–475.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hopkins DL,
Hall DG, Luff AF
(1996) Lamb carcass characteristics. 3. Describing changes in carcasses of growing lambs using real-time ultrasound and the use of these measurements for estimating the yield of saleable meat. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 36, 37–43.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hopkins DL,
Hegarty RS, Farrell TF
(2005) Relationship between sire EBV’S and the meat and eating quality of meat from their progeny grown on two planes of nutrition. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 525–533.
| Crossref |
Hopkins DL, Tulloh NM
(1985) Effects of a severe nutritional check in early post natal life on the subsequent growth of sheep to the age of 12–14 months. Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 105, 551–562.
Jackson SP,
Green RD, Miller MF
(1997a) Phenotypic characterisation of Rambouillet sheep expressing the Callipyge gene: I. Inheritance of the condition and production characteristics. Journal of Animal Science 75, 14–18.
| PubMed |
Jackson SP,
Miller MF, Green RD
(1997b) Phenotypic characterization of Rambouillet sheep expressing the Callipyge gene: III. Muscle weights and muscle weight distribution. Journal of Animal Science 75, 133–138.
| PubMed |
Jones HE,
Am PR,
Lewis RM, Emmans GC
(2004) Economic values for changes in carcass lean and fat weights at a fixed age for terminal sire breeds of sheep in the UK. Livestock Production Science 89, 1–17.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jopson NB,
Nicoll GB,
Stevenson-Barry JM,
Duncan S,
Greer GJ,
Bain WE,
Gerard EM,
Glass BC,
Broad TE, McEwan JC
(2001) Mode of inheritance and effects on meat quality of the rib-eye muscling (REM) QTL in sheep. Proceedings of the Australian Association of Animal Breeding and Genetics 14, 111–114.
Langlands JP
(1972) Growth and herbage consumption of grazing Merino and Border Leicester lambs reared by their mothers or fostered by ewes of the other breed. Animal Production 14, 317–322.
Lewis RM,
Emmans GC, Simm G
(2002) Effects of index selection on the carcass composition of sheep given either ad libitum or controlled amounts of food. Animal Science 75, 185–195.
Searle TW,
Mc C,
Graham N, O’Callaghan M
(1972) Growth in sheep I. The chemical composition of the body. Journal of Agricultural Science (Cambridge) 79, 371–382.
Shackelford SD,
Wheeler TL, Koohmaraie M
(1998) Can the genetic antagonisms of Callipyge lamb be overcome? Reciprocal Meat Conference Proceedings 51, 125–132.
Sillence NM
(2004) Technologies for the control of fat and lean deposition in livestock. Veterinary Journal 167, 242–257.
| Crossref |
Snowder GD,
Cockett NE,
Busboom JR, Hendricks F
(1994) The influence of the callipyge gene on growth and feed efficiency of whitefaced and blackfaced lambs. Journal of Animal Science 72, 932–937.
| PubMed |
Thatcher LP, Gaunt GM
(1992) Effects of growth path and post-slaughter chilling regime on carcass composition and meat quality of ewe lambs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 43, 819–830.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
