Pre-weaning growth, carcass traits and sensory evaluation of Corriedale, Corriedale x Pampinta and Pampinta lambs

Birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), preweaning weight gain (PWG), carca ss traits and sensory evaluation of meat of Corriedale (C), Pampinta (P) an d their Fl crossbred (P x C) lambs were studied from 1991 to 1993 at the Ag ricultural Experimental Station of Anguil (La Pampa, Argentina). Each year the trial involved an average of 35 C, 43 P and 36 P x C. Data were analyze d for year, genotype, sex and birth type acid their interactions as fixed e ffects and birth weight and lamb age as covariables. The effects of genotyp e, sex, age and birth type were generally significant (P < 0.05). P lambs h ad the heaviest (P < 0.03) BW (4.75 vs 4.26 kg for C and 4.30 kg for P x C) . Means for WW (33.4 kg) and PWG (295 g) of P were higher than those for C (24.6 kg and 218 g) and P x C (27.7 kg and 245 g). Means for the latter gen otype were significantly higher than those for C. Carcass analysis showed s maller (P < 0.05) total fat and higher (P < 0.05) muscle percentages in P a nd P x C lambs compared to C. No differences were detected in sensory evalu ation between genotypes. Meat from the three groups had a slightly intense flavor was rather juicy, tender and practically without connective tissues. These results suggest that utilization of P genotype may be effective to p roduce early finished lean lambs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.