Desempenho e características de carcaça de cordeiros de diferentes genótipos terminados precocemente em confinamento.

Abstract

Sheep production is a profitable activity and is still considered to be of low productivity in relation to meat production in Brazil. Hence the importance of using specialized foods and races at the crossroads, introducing natural breeds such as Santa Inês (SI) with improved exotic breeds such as Dorper (DP), allowing genetic improvement and increased production. In this context, the objective of this study was to study the effect of genotypes of lambs ¾ DP x ¼ SI; ½ DP x ½ SI and SI on the performance and characteristics of carcasses. The work was carried out at the Benjamim Maranhão Experimental Station, belonging to the State Agricultural Research Company of Paraíba, Tacima-PB. Twenty-eight lambs were used, 8 of the Santa Inês breed, 8 mestizos ½ SD  ½ SI and 8 mestizos ¾ DP x ¼ SI, which received a single diet containing 23.3% CP and 2.95 Mcal (EM/kg MS). Superiority was observed for lambs ¾ SD x SI SI in weight at weaning, total weight gain, body weight at weaning and body scoring at slaughter. There were also higher results in the same group for thigh circumference, croup perimeter warm carcass weight, cold carcass weight, warm, cold, biological carcass yield and subcutaneous fat thickness. The lambs ¾ DP x SI provided results for lambs with more muscle and fat in a shorter time, improving performance, conformation and carcass yield, allowing the intensive system to slaughter precocious lambs and consequently reducing feedlot costs.