Evaluation of regional and tissue composition of lamb carcass

Abstract

Understanding the animal growth and development and its effects on regional and tissue composition are crucial for improving the production of sheep meat. It is known that growth and development are regulated hormonally and controlled by physiological laws and are influenced by genetic and other factors such as size, maturity, sex, feeding regime , age and the environment in which the animal is inserted. The study of regional or anatomical composition is done by separating the carcass in specific cuts.In the review we discuss the shoulder and the leg, for use as reference by the ease and fidelity in separation. The tissue or histologic composition of carcass cuts is performed by dissection technique which consists in separating the cut on muscle, bone, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat and other tissues (tendons, connective tissue, cartilage, lymph nodes). The literature reviewed shows a great variability of these results, reflecting the different finishing systems, food and genetic groups used for the production of sheep meat. The regional composition combined with the tissue composition is a parameter used to determine the quality of the lamb carcass and edible portion yield. This information canbe used in carcass evaluation systems in order to enhance the carcasses with higher percentage of meat and appropriate amount of fat.