Correlações entre medidas biométricas e ultrassom para estimar qualidade de carcaça em cordeiros

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the carcasses traits in Corriedale and Ideal breeds and compare the use of biometric and ultrasound measurements to evaluate lambs carcass traits in those breeds raised on native pasture in the Alto Camaquã region. Twenty lambs were used, 12 Corriedale and 13 Ideal, born in September 2013, all animals were created on the territory of the Alto Camaquã. The study began during the loading of the animals, when they were weighted on an electronic scale, and obtained the producer live weight (PLW) and transported to a commercial abattoir in Bagé city - RS. In arrival of the animals at the abbatoir was carried out the in vivo assessment which was evaluated: abattoir live weight (ALW), body length (BL), hip height (HH), anterior height (AH), perimeter thoracic (PT) and body condition (BC). At the same time ultrasound images were collected in the region between the 12th and 13th ribs at longissimus muscle, the ribeye area (REA) backfat thickness (BF) and rump fat thickness (RF). After slaughter, the following evaluations were performed: carcass fat covering , carcass yield (CY), hot carcass weight (HCW). Statistical analyzes were performed using the PROC CORR procedure of SAS (2001) program. The Corriedade breed carcasses presented the following traits: producer live weight 39.56 kg, abattoir live weight 37.86 kg , 2.07 body condition score, carcass yield 39.57%, 3.00 carcass fat covering , REA 7,04cm², BF 1.12 mm, RF 1.24 mm. While the Ideal carcasses showed producer live weight 27, 33 kg; abattoir live weight 26.72 kg, 1.96 body condition score, carcass yield was 41.98%; REA 6 , 51 cm ², BF 1.02 mm, RF 0.70 mm. It was found significantly correlation (P <0.001) among body condition (BC) and hot carcass weight (HCW) and ribeye area (REA). When correlated measurements obtained by ultrasound only rump fat thickness (RF) had mostly positive correlations with high significant level (P <0.001) for the , ALW and HCW variables. When PT only correlated REA, HP, PLW, ALW and REV obtained significance (P <0.05), also BC and HCW obtained significant results in the correlation. It can be concluded that in vivo evaluations through both biometric and ultrasound measurements in Corriedale and Ideal lambs are possible to identify the carcasses traits by the use of both types of techniques. However, we found no significant correlation between body condition scores and ultrasound measurements, EGS and EGP8, which are highly related to carcass finish condition.