EFFECT OF AGE ON CARCASS AND MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS IN HASSAN SHEEP
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Date
2022
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of age on carcass and
meat quality characteristics of Hassan sheep. The pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass
weight, dressing percentage and loin eye area (LEA) revealed a significant (P<0.05)
difference ranging from 20.81-32.05 kg, 9.94-13.78 kg, 43.12-49.74 per cent and
10.01-12.68 cm2, respectively. A significantly (P<0.05) higher non-carcass
components was recorded in culled animals. The yield of major primal cuts viz.,
shoulder, leg and loin decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in age (P<0.05).
A significant (P<0.05) difference in pH45min, pH24hrs, WHC, cooking and drip loss
percentage was evident between the three age groups in both muscles. Lightness (L*)
and yellowness (b*) decreased, whereas redness (a*) increased as age of the animal
advanced in both muscles. The myoglobin content in LTL and SM muscles of Hassan
sheep was 2.55-3.12 mg/g and 2.21-3.14 mg/g, respectively and showed a significant
(P<0.05) increase with age of the animal. A significant (P<0.05) increase was
observed in shear force, collagen content and muscle fibre diameter (MFD) with
increase in age, whereas sarcomere length and collagen solubility revealed a reverse
trend. The moisture, protein and fat (%) content ranged from 70.47-71.09, 18.50-
22.23, 3.790-5.089, respectively and the cholesterol content ranged from 37.63 to
211.1 mg/100 g. A significant (P<0.05) increase in fat and decrease in protein was
evident with the age of the animal. Sensory evaluation revealed a decline in major
characteristics with increase in age except for juiciness. Based on the results of the
carcass and meat quality characteristics in the present study, Hassan sheep slaughtered
at the age of 12-15 months (T2) had better carcass and meat quality characteristics
viz., dressing percentage and higher yield of major primal cuts, intermediate shear
values, better proximate composition and higher sensory scores as compared to meat
from animals slaughtered at 6-8 months (T1) and 30-32 months (T3). Hence, it is
concluded that the optimal age of slaughter of Hassan sheep is 12-15 months