Effect of slaughter age on carcass traits and meat quality of deccani sheep

Twenty Deccani lambs of 4, 6, 9 and 12 months of age (5 lambs per group) were slaughtered to study the carcass characteristics. Empty body weight, hot carcass weight and loin eye area were significantly (P<0.01) higher at 12 months age than other age groups. The percentage of primal cuts at slaughter age of 4, 6, 9 and 12 months were 33.61, 32.10, 28.50, 27.48 for leg, 10.21, 10.73, 11.64, 13.25 for loin, 12.63, 13.45, 11.64, 15.39 for rack, 16.90, 17.81, 20.02, 18.21 for breast and fore shank and 24.24, 24.12, 23.97, 23.85 for neck and shoulder, respectively. The moisture contents at 12 months age were 74.15, 73.75, 74.41, 73.61 and 74.71% in leg, loin, rack, breast and fore shank and neck and shoulder, respectively. Moisture contents decreased significantly as age of animal advanced. The protein contents at 12 months age were 21.05, 20.94, 20.34 and 19.81% in loin, rack, breast and shoulder and neck and shoulder, respectively. The influence of slaughter age on protein content in loin, rack, breast and fore shank and neck and shoulder was significant. The fat contents in primal cuts increased significantly as the age of animal advanced. The organoleptic scores for tenderness, flavour, juiciness and overall satisfaction were comparable. It was concluded that slaughter age of 6 to 9 months was found to be superior for quantitative and qualitative mutton production.