Influence of sex, slaughter weight and season on carcass characteristics of Lika Pramenka lambs raised under semi-extensive production system

The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of sex, slaughter weight and season on carcass characteristics of Lika Pramenka lambs (30 males and 30 females). All lambs were reared traditionally on natural pastures within two seasons and were slaughtered at the age of five months. Male lambs had deeper chests and longer hind legs than females. Furthermore, male lambs had higher proportion of shoulder, hind legs, shank, head, and lower proportion of rack. Female lambs had lower bone and muscle proportions and higher fat proportions in individual cuts. Slaughter weight significantly affected hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, stomach with intestines, lungs with hearth, skin with feet, chest depth, proportion of belly, shank, kidney knob and channel fat. Season affected all slaughter traits, linear measurements and non-carcass components (except spleen and skin with feet). Furthermore, season affected proportion of neck, rack, hind legs, shank, belly, flank, and fat and bone proportions in the carcass i.e. fat proportion in shoulder, rack, loin, hind legs and belly, and muscle proportion in rack and belly. In order to provide more uniform lambs at the market it is necessary to assure typical feeds in unfavourable seasons and slaughter lambs at narrower weight ranges. Since typical and “natural” meat products are gaining popularity it is necessary to conduct more detailed studies with sensory evaluation and consumers included.