Breed and sex differences in equally mature sheep and goats 3. Muscle weight distribution

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Thonney ◽  
St C. S. Taylor ◽  
J. I. Murray ◽  
T. H. McClelland

ABSTRACTMales and females from Soay, Welsh Mountain, Southdown, Finnish Landrace, Jacob, Wiltshire Horn and Oxford Down sheep breeds and a breed of feral goats were slaughtered when they reached 0·40, 0·52, 0·64 or 0·76 of the mean mature body weight of their breed and sex. Total weight of dissected muscle was close to 0·30 times fleece-free empty body weight, or 0·24 times live weight, for all breeds and stages of maturity. The growth of 12 individual muscles or muscle groups dissected from the commercially higher-valued joints of the carcass, was examined in relation to live weight and total muscle weight. Limb muscles matured early. All 12 muscles, when combined, also matured early so that the proportion of lean tissue from the higher-valued joints declined as live weight increased.There were small but significant sex differences in the relative growth rate of some muscles. The abdominal muscles were early maturing for males and average for females. There were also sex differences in muscle weight distribution. The proportion of muscle in the hind limb of females was 1·055 times that in males, while the 12 muscles from higher-valued cuts constituted 0·403 of total carcass muscle for females and 0·389 for males, a proportional difference of 0·035.Muscle weight distribution was unrelated to breed size with the possible exception of m. gastrocnemius which appeared to be relatively smaller in genetically larger breeds. After accounting for differences in mature weight, there remained small but significant breed deviations in muscle weight distribution. Southdowns had the most attractive distribution. Feral goats and Jacob sheep, although they had the highest proportion of total muscle, had a much less attractive distribution.

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Butler-Hogg ◽  
O. P. Whelehan

ABSTRACTA total of 56 sheep, 28 Clun and 28 Southdown were slaughtered, five of each breed, at birth, 50, 100, 150 and 200 days and three of each breed at 415 days of age. The left half of each carcass was separated anatomically into individual muscles, bones and fat depots. For the purposes of analysis, individual muscles were assigned to one of eight muscle groups, depending upon their anatomical location.The relative growth of some individual muscles was found to change over this age range, as indicated by a significant squared term in the quadratic allometric equation: this was true for proportionately 0·33 of the muscles in Clun and for proportionately 0·44 of those in Southdown, accounting for proportionately 0·33 and 0·47 of total muscle weight in Clun and Southdown respectively.Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to derive the multivariate analogue of the quadratic part of quadratic allometry: the sign of the loading on the second principal component had the same sign as the change observed in bq, the quadratic relative growth coefficient. Thus, PCA offers the potential to identify simultaneously, and independently of shape or conformation, all those muscles whose relative growth coefficients change over the period examined. It could be applied successfully to breed comparisons of conformation.The cumulative effects of changing relative growth rates of muscles were small. Muscle weight distribution appears to be almost fixed within the first few weeks after birth. Despite their differences in conformation and mature size, Clun and Southdown lambs had similar distributions of muscle weight at the same age; the high valued muscles constituted 513·8 g/kg total muscle in Clun and 514·7 g/kg total muscle in Southdown lambs at 200 days of age.


1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Davies

SUMMARYHalf carcasses of 18 Pietrain and 18 Large White female pigs were each dissected into 93 muscle units. An allometric analysis of the weight of these units relative to total muscle revealed increasing craniocaudal and distoproximal growth gradients, which were more pronounced in the Pietrain.The greater total weight of muscle, shown previously for the Pietrain at any given body weight over the range studied, was not due to higher muscle weights in any particular region at birth, but at 60 kg body weight was due to heavier high impetus muscles. Heart weight relative to total muscle weight was higher for the Large White over the entire range.It is concluded that for the animals studied the changes in muscle distribution are related to the functional demands of an increase in body size, and that the muscle distribution of pigs can differ between breeds.


1973 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Mukhoty ◽  
R. T. Berg

SummaryIn this experiment an attempt was made to study the influence of breed and sex on the muscle-weight distribution of cattle. The weights of individual muscles obtained by total dissection from the side of a carcass from each of 63 bulls, 106 steers and 22 heifers representing six, eight and two breed groups respectively were classified into nine anatomical groups using the method of Butterfield (1963). Muscle-weight distribution was then studied by expressing the muscle in each of these groups as percentages of total muscle and also as adjusted mean weight of muscle in each region while statistically adjusting total muscle to a constant level.Results indicated that breed differences were significant although small for abdominal muscles and muscles of the neck region within bulls and steers, but two breed groups of heifers did not differ. There was no detectable breed influence on the percentage of any other muscle group. Percentages of muscles classified as expensive were found to be remarkably similar among breed groups in all three sexes.Sex influences on muscle distribution were also appraised. There was a general trend of heifers having a higher percentage in the proximal pelvic limb and abdominal areas than steers, while steers exceeded bulls. This order of sex influence was reversed in the muscles of the neck and thorax region. The influence of sex was conspicuous in areas classified as having expensive muscles, with heifers having a higher percentage of muscles in the high-priced regions than steers and steers being superior to bulls. Sex differences reflect the differential development of bulls compared with the other sexes as they mature. Muscles of the neck and thorax in bulls increase in proportion and other groups (proximal hind and abdominal) decrease. The differentiation of muscles represents a trend toward masculinity from heifer to steer to young bull and finally to old bull proportions.


1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Taylor ◽  
M. A. Mason ◽  
T. H. McClelland

ABSTRACTSheep from the Soay, Southdown, Finnish Landrace and Oxford Down breeds were serially slaughtered at 40, 52, 64 and 76% of their estimated mature body weight. Breed and sex comparisons of muscle distribution wee made at these degrees of maturity. Comparisons were based on 12 individual muscles obtained from the prime retailjoints. Together, these 12 muscles represented about 41 % of total weight ofmuscle in the carcass. Highly significant breed and sex differences in the weight of individual muscles were obtained, but these differences were greatly reduced when values were expressed as a percentage of total muscle weight.On a percentage basis, there were significant changes with stage of maturity in only three of the muscles studied, although most individual muscles showed an initial percentage decrease with increasing maturity (from 40 to 52%) but almost no change thereafter. Significant breed differences in muscle distribution were found. The individual muscles examined, when combined, comprised 40·8, 43·4, 40·5 and 39·8 % of total muscle weight respectively in the Soay, Southdown, Finnish Landrace and Oxford Down. No breed was significantly above average for every individual muscle, but the Southdown had the highest percentage in 6 out of 12 and might therefore be said to have had the most preferred muscle distribution. For most muscles examined, the percentage was slightly higher for females than for males, with totals for all 12 muscles of 41·9 and 40·4% respectively.


1984 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Butterfield ◽  
K. J. Reddacliff ◽  
J. M. Thompson ◽  
J. Zamora ◽  
Jean Williams

ABSTRACTMaturity patterns have been established for 93 individual carcass muscles and nine standard muscle groups using dissection data from 20 Dorset Horn rams and 20 Dorset Horn wethers. A very high proportion, 81/93, of the individual muscles and all the muscle groups had maturity patterns which were not different for the rams and wethers.Maturity patterns of some muscle groups varied from those previously demonstrated in Merino rams, in that the abdominal wall group was later maturing and the neck to forelimb and neck and thorax groups were earlier maturing in the Dorset Horns.Comparison of the distribution of muscle weight of the Dorset Horn rams and wethers at the mean total muscle weight resulted in different conclusions to comparison at the mean proportion of maturity. It is concluded that comparisons of muscle weight distribution of entire and castrated male sheep, in which mature muscle weight varies, will be most meaningful if carried out at the same proportion of maturity, since comparisons at the same weight of total muscle will embrace components of difference due to stage of maturity.


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. RICHMOND ◽  
R. T. BERG

The muscle-weight distribution and relative growth rate patterns were determined for 96 muscles and nine anatomical muscle groups dissected from half carcasses of pigs from two studies. The first study involved 109 pigs representing barrows and gilts of three breed groups, fed two rations differing in energy and protein and slaughtered at weights ranging from 23 to 114 kg liveweight. The second study involved 72 pigs representing barrows and gilts of two breed groups, fed one of three levels of a low-energy ration and slaughtered at one of three liveweights from 68 kg to 114 kg. Of the 96 muscles dissected, 69 muscles each weighed less than 1% of total muscle, five ranged from 3 to 7% and one muscle was more than 10% of total muscle. Relative growth rate patterns of individual muscles and anatomical muscle groups from pigs were compared with other studies from cattle and sheep. Generally, relative muscle growth in pigs over the range in liveweight studied appeared to be more monophasic than in cattle or sheep. Relative growth rate of muscles and subsequent muscle distribution appeared to be related to muscle function. Muscles associated with mobility immediately after birth showed much earlier development than those concerned with propulsion. Muscles involved with posture appeared to grow at the same relative rate as total muscle. Key words: Pig, growth, muscle growth


1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Perry ◽  
J. M. Thompson ◽  
R. M. Butterfield

ABSTRACTThe change in muscle-weight distribution from birth to maturity was examined in rams and ewes from strains of Australian Merino sheep which had been selected for high or low weaning weight, and from a randomly bred control flock. The proportional distribution of total muscle weight among nine anatomically standardized muscle groups was determined for 34 mature animals. The growth of each group was then assessed relative to the growth of the total musculature, using data from 106 immature animals. Maturity coefficients were calculated separately for pre- and post-weaning growth. Several muscle groups exhibited a diphasic growth pattern.Selection for high and low weaning weight resulted in an increase and decrease respectively in total muscle weight in mature animals, but had no effect on mature muscle-weight distribution. There were no significant strain effects on maturing patterns of muscle groups, except during the pre-weaning growth of muscles around the spinal column and those connecting the thorax to the forelimb. When compared at the same stage of maturity there was little difference between the strains in muscle-weight distribution. However, at the same weight the larger mature-size strain had a more immature pattern of muscle-weight distribution.The total muscle weight of mature rams was greater than that of mature ewes. Sex also had an effect on muscle-weight distribution at maturity for seven of the nine muscle groups. At maturity rams had a higher proportion of their muscle weight in those muscle groups associated with the neck and thorax, and a lower proportion in those associated with the limbs. Sex affected the pre-weaning maturing pattern of the muscles of the spinal column, and the post-weaning maturing pattern of all muscle groups, with the exception of those muscles associated with the distal hindlimb, the spinal column, and those attaching the thorax to the forelimb.


1973 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Seebeck

SummaryComparative slaughter was used to assess the effects of body-weight loss on Brahman cross (BX) and Africander cross (AX) steers of the F3generation with respect to gross dissected carcass composition and the distribution of these components over the dressed carcass. Animals were slaughtered at design body weights of 325, 341, 358, 374 and 390 kg, some while during positive body-weight growth (Group A), and others during weight loss from 390 kg at a rate of approximately 0–5 kg/day (Group B).Gross composition was similar in the two breeds, irrespective of the body-weight loss treatment. Body-weight loss resulted in muscle and fat approximately reversing the path of development, while bone and fascia and tendon remained approximately constant. No evidence of proportionally early loss of fat and later loss of muscle was found. Of the fat components, kidney and channel fat showed the highest relative loss. The distribution of muscle was different between the breeds, the most statistically significant differences being that AX had heavier muscles around the spinal column and lighter shin muscles, at the same total muscle weight. Bone weight distribution differences also occurred, with AX tending to have lighter leg bones, at the same total bono weight. A breed difference in intermuscular fat distribution meant that the AX animals were earlier developing in the forequarter and later developing in the hind quarter in respect to its intermuscular fat, than the BX animals.Body-weight loss affected muscle-weight distribution, the most marked effect being that the relative proportion of abdominal muscles fell during body-weight loss. Boneweight distribution was affected to a minor extent, the effects mainly being in the leg bones rather than the axial skeleton. The distribution of neither fascia and tendons nor subcutaneous fat was affected by the body-weight loss treatment, but the distribution of intermuscular fat was affected.


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. RICHMOND ◽  
R. T. BERG

The effects of liveweight, breed, sex, diet and feeding level on muscle distribution were studied by comparing nine anatomical muscle groups dissected from the half carcasses of pigs from two studies. The first study consisted of 109 pigs representing barrows and gilts of three breed groups, fed two diets differing in energy and protein. The second study consisted of 72 barrows and gilts from two breed groups fed a low-energy diet at one of three feed levels. Animals were slaughtered at 23, 68, 91 or 114 kg liveweight. The results were compared with data from one other study. In pigs, major differentiation in muscle development appears to take place prior to 23 kg liveweight. Muscle differentiation appeared to follow functional demands. Muscles associated with mobility immediately after birth such as the distal limb muscles, developed early while those associated with greater locomotion and propulsion, such as the proximal pelvic limb muscles, developed later in life. Sex had little influence on muscle distribution between 23 and 114 kg liveweight. Proportion of abdominal muscles had apparently increased markedly prior to 23 kg liveweight and continued to be influenced by the level of feeding throughout. Breed differences in muscle distribution were observed for spinal, abdominal and distal thoracic limb muscles. Key words: Swine, muscle growth, muscle distribution


1974 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Murray ◽  
N. M. Tulloh ◽  
W. H. Winter

SUMMARYA study was made of the effect on body composition of growing Angus steers from 300 to 440 kg at three different rates. The rates were: High (H) 0·8 kg/day, Low (L) 0·4 kg/day and High-Maintenance (HM) 0·8 kg/day followed by a period during which body weight was maintained constant.The animals were individually penned and the different growth rates were achieved by controlling intakes of a pelleted feed. Two animals (part of H treatment) were killed at 300 kg and the remaining 27 animals (nine in each treatment), were killed at common body weights of 330, 363, 400 and 440 kg.Analyses of covariance were used to compare linear regression equations representing results from each treatment. In order to do this, the logarithmic transformation of the allometric equation, y = axb, was used. As a proportion of empty body weight (EBW), hot carcass weight (HCW) was greater in both the HM and L groups than in the H group, indicating a greater offal component of EBW in the H animals. The loss in weight of the dressed carcass during storage at 2 °C for 24 h was similar in all three groups and was 0·98% of HCW. The proportions of HCW in the fore- and hind-quarters were similar in each group.At the same dissected side weight (DSW), the weight of bone was significantly greater in both the HM and L groups than in the H group indicating that bone development was related to both age and carcass weight. There were no significant differences between the groups in the proportions of either muscle or total fat. However, the proportion of kidney and channel fat in the H group was greater than in the HM and L groups and the proportion of subcutaneous fat was also greater in the H than in the L group. The amount of connective tissue in the three groups followed, in general, group differences in bone. Analyses of the dissected components of the separate fore- and hind-quarters showed that the difference between the H and L groups in the proportion of subcutaneous fat in the DSW was due to a relatively greater development of this fat in the fore-quarter of the H animals.No differences were found between treatments in the proportion of ‘expensive muscles’ relative to total side muscle (TSM). However, there were treatment effects on the proportions of TSM formed by certain groups of muscles; two examples are: the proportion of group 4 muscles (abdominal muscles) was higher and the proportion of group 6 muscles (distal muscles of the fore-leg) was lower in the H than in the L treatments. Bone weight distribution was similar in all treatments.There were differences between the H and HM groups in the relative growth ratios for all fat tissues (subcutaneous, intermuscular and kidney and channel fat) compared with total side fat. However, in the H and L groups, the relative growth ratios for corresponding fat categories were similar. The weight of kidney and channel fat in the left side of the carcass was significantly greater than in the right side of the carcass in all treatments.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document