Slaughter characteristics of the export Sudan Desert sheep

Abstract

Body weight, carcass weight and composition of 10 mature male, fattened Hamari (Sudan Desert sheep) sheep were evaluated. Slaughter weight averaged 62.1 kg and ranged from 58 to 69 kg. Cold carcass weight was 30 kg while dressing percentage was 43.4 and 56.4 on respective live and empty body weight bases. Carcass fat varied most (the coefficient of variation was 30), carcass bone was intermediate while carcass muscle was least variable. Data on coefficient of variation of carcass components of export Hamari sheep, correlation between slaughter weight and live animal measurements are given. Observations indicated that dressing percentage depended on the state of the animal.