Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T21:35:45.893Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Quantitative estimates of lamb carcass composition 2. Specific gravity determination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

V. M. Timon  and
Maurice Bichard
V. M. Timon
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Maurice Bichard
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Get access

Summary

Relationships between specific gravity and carcass tissue were studied in 83 purebred Clun Forest lambs slaughtered at approximately 80 lb. liveweight and ranging in carcass weight from 29 to 42 lb. Carcass specific gravity accounted for 86·1% and 78·1% of the respective variances in carcass fat percentage and muscle percentage. Specific gravity determinations on a single joint were also highly correlated with the carcass tissues. Correlation coefficients between loin specific gravity and carcass fat and muscle were −0·89 and 0·82 respectively; corresponding figures for best-neck specific gravity were −0·86 with carcass fat percentage, and 0·76 with carcass muscle percentage. In partial correlation analyses, muscle/bone ratio failed to have a significant effect on these relationships. The usefulness of estimates of carcass composition based on specific gravity determinations is discussed in relation to the maximum probable errors associated with predicted values and with reference to the accuracy of these estimates under different experimental conditions. The magnitude of the confidence limits (P = 0·05) on individual predictions varied from ±2·98% to ±3·48% for fat and muscle respectively and for group (n = 12) predictions, from ±0·88% to ±1·01% respectively. This suggests that little confidence can be placed in specific gravity determinations as a reflection of real individual differences or small treatment differences.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , June 1965 , pp. 183 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1965

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barton, R. A., & Kirton, A. H., 1956. Determination of fat in mutton carcasses by measurement of specific gravity. Nature (Lond.), 178: 920.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Behnke, A. R., Feen, B. G., & Welham, W. C., 1942. Specific gravity of healthy man. J. Amer. Med. Assoc, 118: 495–498.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., 1955. A note on the estimation of body composition of pigs. Unpublished A.R.C. memo no. 491/55.Google Scholar
Cowan, R. L., Keck, E., Ziegler, J. H., Watkins, J. L., & Miller, R. C., 1961. Relationship of specific gravity to fat and energy content of lamb carcasses. J. Anim.Sci., 20: 916 (Soc. Proc.)Google Scholar
Da Costa, E., & Clayton, R., 1950. Studies of dietary restriction and rehabilitation. 2. Interrelationships among the fat, water content and specific gravity of the total carcass of the Albino rat. J. Nutr., 41: 597–606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duncum, W. J., 1949. A Picture Guide to Dissection. Practical Press (London).Google Scholar
Field, R. A., Kemp, J. D., & Varney, W. Y., 1963. Indices for lamb carcass composition. J. Anim. Sci., 22: 218–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garrett, W. N., Meyer, J. H., & Lofgreen, G. P., 1959. The comparative energy requirements of sheep and cattle for maintenance and gain. J. Anim. Sci., 18: 528–547.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keys, A., & Brozek, J., 1953. Body fat in adult man. Physiol. Rev., 33: 245–325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kirton, A. H., & Barton, R. A., 1958. Specific gravity as an index of the fat content of mutton carcasses and various joints. N.Z. J. agric. Res., 1: 633–641.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirton, A. H., & Barton, R. A., 1962. Studies of some indices of the chemical composition of lambs' carcasses. J. Anim. Sci., 21: 553–557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kline, E. A., Ashton, G. C., & Kastelic, J., 1955. The effect of chilling time on the specific gravity of hog carcasses and upon the correlation between specific gravity and measures of fatness. J. Anim. Sci., 14: 1230 (Soc. Proc.)Google Scholar
Knight, A. D., Foote, W. C., & Bennett, J. A., 1959. Some relationships of live animal and carcass measurements to carcass characteristics and breed type differences in lamb. J. Anim. Sci., 18: 1167 (Soc. Proc.)Google Scholar
Kraybill, H. F., Bitter, H. L., & Hankins, O. G., 1952. Body composition of cattle. II. Determination of fat and water content from measurement of body specific gravity. J. Appl. Physiol., 4: 575–583.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morales, M. F., Rathbun, E. N., Smith, R. E., & Pace, N., 1945. Studies on body composition. II. Theoretical considerations regarding the major body tissue components, with suggestions for application to man. J. Biol. Chem., 158: 677–684.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rathbun, E. N., & Pace, N., 1945. Studies on body composition. I. The determination of total body fat by means of the body specific gravity. J. Biol. Chem., 158: 667–676.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snedecor, G. W., 1959. Statistical methods: Iowa State College Press, Ames., Ia.Google Scholar
Stouffer, J. R., 1955. The effect of high corn oil on lamb carcass characteristics and the use of specific gravity as an index to degree of finish. Proc. 8th Ann. Recip. Meat Conf., p. 87.Google Scholar
Timon, V. M., & Bichard, M., 1965. Quantitative estimates of lamb carcass composition. 1. Sample joints. Anim. Prod., 7: 173–181.Google Scholar
Whiteman, J. V., Whatley, J. A., & Hillier, J. C., 1953. A further investigation of specific gravity as a measure of poor carcass value. J. Anim. Sci., 12: 859–869.CrossRefGoogle Scholar