ABSTRACT
Carcass composition of Naeemi (N), Chios (C), Texel (T), Naeemi x Texel (NxT) and
Naeemi x Border Leicester Merino (NxBLM) lambs were studied at a mean slaughter weight of
45±4.5 kg. One half of each carcass was dissected into subcutaneous fat, muscle and bone,
where dissected components were separately weighed to determine composition of individual
carcasses. The aim of the study was to compare dressing percentage and carcass composition of
lambs of the five genetic groups.
The overall means for dressing percentage, half-carcass weight, and weights of
subcutaneous fat, muscle and bone in the half carcass were 44.9% and 10.1, 0.79, 7.4 and 1.69
kg, respectively. Dressing percentage was the lowest for N (39.4%) and the highest for NxT
(47.5%), subcutaneous fat was the lowest for T (0.32 kg) and the highest for NxT (1.39 kg) and
muscle was the lowest for N (6.6 kg) and the highest for NxT (8.1 kg). Breed differences were
significant for dressing percentage, half-carcass weight and subcutaneous fat (P<0.01), but were
not significant for muscle and bone.