Project Number: 5364-31000-010-02
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 31, 2007
End Date: Jan 31, 2012

Objective:
In a range sheep production environment, progeny test terminal-type sires for traits of survivability, rate and efficiency of growth, carcass composition, and meat quality in order to identify breeds and sires within breeds that warrant utilization in the development of a white-faced composite terminal sire line. Quantitative and molecular genetics and meat science will be used for enhancing rate and efficiency of growth, carcass composition, and muscle characteristics.

Approach:
Rate and efficiency of growth, carcass composition, and meat quality will be evaluated for four terminal-type breeds in a range sheep production environment. Approximate live animal target weights for the lambs are 54.4, 61.2 and 68.0 kg (120, 135, and 150 lb). Animals will be harvested under inspection in a commercial setting, and carcasses will be fabricated according to USDA Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications. During animal harvest and carcass fabrication, appropriate tissue samples and linear and weight measures will be collected as a means to characterize individual carcass composition and meat quality. Characterizations will include, but are not limited to, dressing percentage, carcass length, weights of untrimmed, trimmed, and boneless wholesale cuts, weight of kidney fat, subcutaneous loin fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, body wall thickness, longissimus pH, objective longissimus muscle color, and Warner-Bratzler shear force of the longissimus muscle. New genetic and meat science information will be used to develop a new white-faced composite terminal sire line that will produce progeny. Documents NFCA with Ohio State University. Formerly 5364-31000-007-10N (4/09).