Relationships between condition score and carcass composition of pregnant Merino sheep

Abstract

Body condition scores of approximately 400 Merino ewes and the carcase composition of a sub-sample of ewes were determined by inexperienced operators at the tenth and twentieth weeks of pregnancy. Although the repeatability of estimating condition scores was low on both a within and between operator basis, subjectively assessed condition scores, when averaged for three operators, were positively correlated with the per cent of fat plus muscle in the carcase at both the tenth and twentieth weeks of pregnancy. Ewe liveweight was positively correlated with the per cent fat plus muscle in the carcase at the tenth but not at the twentieth week of pregnancy.