Genetic evaluation of crossbred lamb production. 3. Growth and carcass performance of second-cross lambs
R. A. Afolayan A , N. M. Fogarty A E , V. M. Ingham B , A. R. Gilmour A , G. M. Gaunt C , L. J. Cummins D and T. Pollard DA The Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
B Agrisearch Services Pty Ltd, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
C Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.
D Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: neal.fogarty@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58(5) 457-466 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR06310
Submitted: 13 September 2006 Accepted: 22 January 2007 Published: 11 May 2007
Abstract
This study evaluated the growth and carcass performance of second-cross lambs that were the progeny of common terminal sires and a range of first-cross ewes. The first-cross ewes were the progeny of 91 industry sires from several maternal breeds including the Border Leicester, East Friesian, Finnsheep, Coopworth, White Suffolk, Corriedale, and Booroola Leicester breeds. The first-cross ewes were generated at 3 sites over 3 years, and 3 common maternal sires were used at each site and each year to provide genetic links for combined analysis. The 2726 first-cross ewes were mated naturally to common terminal sires for 3 years at each site to quantify the variation in maternal genetics on the performance of 11 341 second-cross cross lambs. The birthweight, weaning weight (at an average age of 100 days) and post-weaning weight (at an average age of 200 days) of the second-cross lambs were analysed using mixed-model procedures. The lambs were slaughtered (n = 8878) at an average target carcass weight of 22 kg and dressing yield, carcass fat, muscle, meat colour, and meat pH were analysed. Crossbred ewe breed (the maternal grand sire breed) was significant for birthweight (range of 0.9 kg), weaning weight (range 4.4 kg) and post-weaning weight (range 4.6 kg). Type of birth and rearing, age of dam, and sex effects were significant for all liveweights. Ewe breed was significant for hot carcass weight, carcass fat levels, and muscle dimensions, but not for meat colour and ultimate meat pH. There was a significant difference between wether and ewe lamb carcasses for most traits, with other fixed effects generally being small when carcass weight was included as a covariate. Lamb carcasses from East Friesian-cross ewes were very lean compared with carcasses from all other ewe breeds (~2 mm lower fat depth at the GR site at 22 kg carcass weight). This comprehensive study of maternal sire breeds provides an opportunity to exploit between-breed variation for some maternal growth and carcass traits. There was, however, considerable overlap among breeds and opportunities exist for additional improvement by exploiting between-maternal sire genetic variance. The role of improved growth and carcass performance in profitability of prime lamb enterprises is discussed.
Additional keywords: progeny test, first-cross ewes, fat depth, meat colour, pH.
Acknowledgments
The MCPT was run by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, The Department of Primary Industries Victoria, and the South Australian Research and Development Institute, with the generous financial support of Meat and Livestock Australia. Commonwealth funding provided through the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre is also acknowledged. We also gratefully thank the many other scientists, technical, and other support staff at the Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Cowra; Orange Agricultural Institute; the Pastoral and Veterinary Institute, Hamilton; and Rutherglen Research Institute who have contributed to and supported this study over several years. We especially acknowledge the contributions to this study of Jayce Morgan, Lynette McLeod, Kelly Lees, Tony Markham, Murray Arnold, Kerrie Groves, Greg Seymour, and Taffy Phillips. The support of ram breeders who entered sires is also greatly appreciated.
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