Forty-nine intact Texel lambs were used to evaluate the effects of different birth periods (August vs. November) on body development, body measurements and carcass characteristics. Animals were maintained in pasture and slaughtered in December for those born in August and April for those born in November at 129 and 164 days of age, respectively. Prior to slaughtering forage yield was estimated by the Botanal technique, which showed that animals born in August had access to better quality pasture. These lambs had greater retail and true carcass yields, hot and cold carcass weights, and carcass fat score and covering fat than those born in November. However, green viscera yield was higher in lambs born in November probably due to the observed differences in pasture nutritional conditions. It can be concluded that birth period affected carcass characteristics in the present trial.
morphology; sheep; yield
