BODY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF OSSIMI, BARKI AND RAHMANI RAM LAMBS RAISED UNDER INTENSIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEM

ABSTRACT
Thirty ram lambs of native breeds (10 of each Ossimi, Barki and Rahmani), fattened up
to 12 months old, were used to investigate the influence of breed and body weight on body
measurements and carcass traits.
Heart girth and paunch girth of Barki ram lambs were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than
those of Ossimi and Rahmani ones. Liver weight was significantly (P < 0.05) heavier in Barki
ram lambs than in Ossimi and Rahmani ones. Carcass of Ossimi significantly (P < 0.05) excelled
that of Barki and Rahmani breeds in total fat stores. Whereas, Barki carcass had significantly (P
< 0.05) less total fat content. The superiority of Ossimi breed in total fat stores may be due to its
heaviest fat tail. Accordingly, hot carcass weight was the highest in Ossimi ram lambs (26.1 kg)
followed by Barki ones (25.8 kg). Whereas, Rahmani ram lambs produced significantly (P <
0.05) the lowest hot carcass weight (24.3 kg). Hence, the highest dressing percentage was
significantly (P < 0.05) found in Ossimi carcass (56.2%) which was over Barki (53.3%) and
Rahmani (53.1%) carcasses. However, the highest weights of carcass cuts (round, loin, thoracic
region, shoulder, neck and flank) were recorded in Barki carcass compared with those of Ossimi
and Rahmani ones.
One the other hand, body weight of ram lamb exerted a positive and highly significant
(P < 0.01) effect on all body measurements and weights of all internal offals (except spleen), hot
carcass and all carcass cuts. Meanwhile, neither breed of sheep nor body weight of ram lamb had
a significant effect on Longissimus dorsi area.
It could be deduced that Barki ram lambs raised under intensive production system had
the best carcass traits with less fat content