J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2014: Vol.

28 (2): 187-188 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

STUDY ON MEAT CHARACTERISTICS OF DORSET AND NILAGIRI CROSS-BRED

SHEEP
V. Chandirasekaran, R. Narendra Babu, R. Anilkumar, P.C. Sakthivel and M. Iyue
Department of Meat Science and Technology,
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal - 637 002, Tamil Nadu
email: v.chandirasekaran@gmail.com

Received: 01-09-2014 Accepted: 21-09-2014

A study was carried out with Dorset × Nilagiri cross-bred sheep to assess the carcass yield and mutton quality. The
results have shown that at the age of nine months, the mean live weight, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage recorded
were 23.00 ± 0.58, 7.82 ± 0.12 and 34 per cent, respectively in males and 20.17 ± 1.17, 7.71 ± 0.43 and 38.24 per cent, respectively
in females with the total average of 21.58 ± 0.86, 7.77 ± 0.20 and 35.98 per cent, respectively. The mean weight of neck, shoulder,
breast and fore shank, rack, loin, legs and meat-bone ratio were 0.60 ± 0.04, 1.32 ± 0.14, 1.65 ± 0.16, 0.55 ± 0.22, 0.85 ± 0.04, 2.73
± 0.09 and 1.74 per cent, respectively in males and 0.60 ± 0.11, 1.20 ± 0.04, 1.65 ± 0.10, 0.58 ± 0.05, 0.85 ± 0.03, 2.77 ± 0.17 and 1.84
per cent, respectively in females with the total average of 0.60 ± 0.05, 1.26 ± 0.07, 1.65 ± 0.09, 0.56 ± 0.02, 0.85 ± 0.02, 2.75 ± 0.09
and 1.79 per cent, respectively. The proximate analysis (percentage) of meat of nine months old Dorset × Nilagiri breed of sheep
showed that moisture, protein, ether extract (fat), total ash and gross energy were 73.57 ± 0.71, 23.16 ± 0.35, 1.64 ± 0.41, 0.93 ± 0.05
and 1491.33 ± 53.60 K.cal/kg respectively in males, whereas 74.04 ± 0.54, 21.27 ± 0.71, 2.21 ± 0.22, 1.19 ± 0.04 and 1462.66 ± 36.71
K.cal./kg respectively in females, with the total average of 73.80 ± 0.28, 22.21 ± 0.30, 1.92 ± 0.15, 1.06 ± 0.03 and 1477 ± 20.71,
respectively.

Nilagiri sheep is a medium sized fine wool breed of sheep
reared mainly for wool in Nilagiri district of Tamil Nadu. They
are generally white in colour with convex face line, giving a
typical Roman nose appearance. The body weight of Nilagiri
lambs at three, six and 12 months of age are 11.8, 15.0 and
19.7 kg respectively. In order to increase the body weight and
meat quality of Nilagiri sheep, Nilagiri ewes maintained at
Sheep Breeding Research Station (SBRS), Sandynallah, Ooty
were crossed with Dorset rams, which is a well known exotic
mutton breed of sheep. In order to determine the meat
production ability and quality of meat produced by Nilagiri x
Dorset crossbred animals, this study was carried out at Sheep
Breeding Research Station, Sandynallah, Ooty in collaboration
with the Department of Meat Science and Technology,
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six male and six female of Dorset × Nilagiri cross-bred sheep
were selected at nine months of age for carcass yield and
mutton quality evaluation in the present study. The animals
were slaughtered by humane method .i.e. by performing
electrical stunning prior to bleeding. The carcass traits were
studied at Sheep Breeding Research Station, Ooty and the
meat samples for proximate analysis were taken to the
Department of Meat Science and Technology, Veterinary
College and Research Institute, Namakkal for further analysis.
The carcass traits studied were live weight, hot carcass weight,
dressing percentage, neck weight, shoulder weight, breast
and fore shank weight, weights of rack, loin & legs and meat-
bone ratio. The proximate analysis was done for moisture,
protein, ether extract (fat), total ash and gross energy. The
data were analyzed using standard formulae1.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The important carcass parameters were included in the present
study to analyze the meat producing ability of Dorset × Nilagiri
breed of sheep. At the age of nine months, the mean live weight,
hot carcass weight and dressing percentage recorded were
23.00 ± 0.58, 7.82 ± 0.12 and 34 per cent, respectively in
males and 20.17 ± 1.17, 7.71 ± 0.43 and 38.24 per cent,
respectively in females with the total average of 21.58 ± 0.86,
7.77 ± 0.20 and 35.98 per cent, respectively. These parameters
were significantly higher in comparison with the earlier reports
of Kenguri breed of sheep where the average slaughter and
the carcass weight were 20.78 ± 0.84 and 9.30 ± 0.39,
respectively, which were slaughtered at the age of 12 months2.
 Meat Characteristics of Dorset and Nilagiri Cross-Bred (188)

The mean weight of neck, shoulder, breast and fore shank,

total average of 73.80 ± 0.28, 22.21 ± 0.30, 1.92 ± 0.15, 1.06 ±
rack, loin, legs and meat-bone ratio were 0.60 ± 0.04, 1.32 ±
0.03 and 1477 ± 20.71, respectively. The higher value in protein
0.14, 1.65 ± 0.16, 0.55 ± 0.22, 0.85 ± 0.04, 2.73 ± 0.09 and
and lower value in ether extract and total ash were recorded in
1.74 per cent, respectively in males and 0.60 ± 0.11, 1.20 ±
comparison with earlier reports in Malpura lambs2 and Kenguri
0.04, 1.65 ± 0.10, 0.58 ± 0.05, 0.85 ± 0.03, 2.77 ± 0.17 and
breed of sheep3.
1.84 per cent, respectively in females with the total average
of 0.60 ± 0.05, 1.26 ± 0.07, 1.65 ± 0.09, 0.56 ± 0.02, 0.85 ±
0.02, 2.75 ± 0.09 and 1.79 per cent, respectively. REFERENCES
1. Snedecor and Cochran (1989). In: Statistical Methods. 8th
The proximate analysis (percentage) of meat of nine months
Edition. The Iowa state University Press, Ames, Iowa, USA.
old Dorset × Nilagiri breed of sheep showed that moisture,
protein, ether extract (fat), total ash and gross energy were 2. Appannavar,M.M., Ashok Pawar, Ramchandra,B., Tandle,
73.57 ± 0.71, 23.16 ± 0.35, 1.64 ± 0.41, 0.93 ± 0.05 and M.K. and Naveen Kumar, G.S. (2010). Ind. Vet. J., 87:83.
1491.33 ± 53.60 K.cal/kg. respectively in males, whereas 3. Patil, N.V. and Honmode, J. (1996). Ind. J. of Anim.Res.,
74.04 ± 0.54, 21.27 ± 0.71, 2.21 ± 0.22, 1.19 ± 0.04 and 30: 93
1462.66 ± 36.71 K.cal./kg. respectively in females, with the