This study was performed with the objective of assessing the effects of feed and genotype on the quantitative characteristics of carcasses of lambs finished in a feedlot and estimate gross margins. Eighteen lambs of each genotype were used: Morada Nova, Santa Inês and cross-breed Dorper × Santa Inês. Feeds with low and high energetic levels consisted of 2.5 Mcal ME/kg DM and 2.94 Mcal ME/kg DM, respectively. A randomized complete design was used, with a 3 × 2 factorial scheme. The diets influenced daily weight gain, empty body weight, body score, feed efficiency and feedlot days, whilst the genotype promoted differences in all the variables studied. The caloric density of the diets influenced the biological hot and cold carcass yields, and the latter two were influenced by genotype. The more energetic diet (2.94 Mcal EM/kgDM) resulted in higher absolute weights of neck, shoulder, rib, loin and leg, but, in relative values, lambs fed with different energetic levels did not differ for these characteristics, regardless of the energetic level of the diet. The percentage yield of the cuts was influenced by the genotypes, except for the neck. The weights of all the cuts were influenced by genotypes. The treatment with the highest energy level resulted in the largest gross margin.
carcass yield; dry matter consumption; sheep
