Callipyge (CLPG, n=16) and normal (N, n=11) lambs were produced from Polypay dams and Dorset sires heterozygous for the CLPG gene to study the effects of the gene on growth and carcass and meat quality parameters. CLPG lambs had higher average daily gain than N lambs (0.26 vs 0.23 kg/day, p<.05); however, the CLPG gene did not affect feed efficiency. Lambs were slaughtered in three groups to achieve moderate uniformity in slaughter weight. At the time of slaughter, weights of head, pelt, and internal organs were recorded. Two leg muscles, two shoulder muscles, the longissimus dorsi muscle, and two loin chops cut 2.5 cm thick, were dissected from each carcass. CLPG lambs had a higher dressing percent (p<.01) and lighter head, pelt, liver (all p<.01), and kidney/pelvic fat (p<.05). CLPG lambs had less fat over 12th rib (p<.05) and larger ribeye area (p<.01). CLPG lambs had greater weights of Biceps femoris (42%, p<.05), Semimembranosus (34%, p<.01), Triceps brachii (20%, p<.05), longissimus dorsi muscle (29%, p<.01) and whole leg (6%, p<.05) than N lambs. All the dissected muscles from all carcasses and one whole leg from each ewe lamb carcasses (n=11) were cooked to an internal temperature of 70��C. CLPG carcasses produced higher Warner-Bratzler shear values for loin chops (4.79 vs 2.93 kg, p<.01), Biceps femoris (3.94 vs 2.92 kg, p<.05), Semimembranosus (4.75 vs 3.46 kg, p<.05) and Longissimus dorsi muscle (5.29 vs 3.4 kg, p<.01) than N lambs. However, no significant differences were detected in shear values for Biceps femoris (3.10 vs 3.04 kg) or Semimembranosus (3.77 vs 3.29 kg) when the muscles were dissected after roasting the whole leg. The CLPG gene also had no effect on the shear values for two dissected shoulder muscles (Deltoid and Triceps brachii). The two genotypes did not differ in either cooking loss or percent moisture in any of the muscles compared. / Graduation date: 1998

American lambs are often over-finished and lack consistent quality. It has been suggested that the use of intact ram lambs can decrease USDA YG and improve growth efficiency. However, ram lamb carcasses are underutilized because of potential issues, the most crucial being off-flavor development. Our hypothesis for this study is that U.S. producers can take advantage of intact ram lamb growth and performance with no detriment to product quality, as long as lambs are slaughtered before the attainment of puberty. Three breeds (Hampshire, Dorset, and Columbia), three slaughter weights (light, medium, and heavy) and two sexes (rams and wethers) were evaluated. Results indicate that ram lambs can provide a satisfactory eating experience, however, in one of our studies compounding of maturity and slaughtering intact rams increased incidence of off-flavors. It remains undetermined whether the small differences in sensory characteristics would be detectable by everyday consumers.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is produced in the rumen by isomerization of linoleic acid and has been shown to be anticarcinogenic. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding dietary CLA to pre-ruminant lambs or linoleic acid-rich safflower oil to weaned ruminating lambs. Fat content, CLA content and fatty acid (FA) composition of diaphragm, leg, rib, subcutaneous (SC) adipose and liver tissues were determined. The triacylglycerol (TAG) fractions of the total lipid (TL) from the diaphragm, rib and SC adipose tissues were analyzed for FA composition and FA positional distribution. The phospholipid (PL) fractions of the TL were analyzed for FA composition. The positional (PL) fractions of the TL were analyzed for FA composition. The positional distribution of FAs of liver PL was determined. Tissue fat content was affected by diet only in SC adipose tissue. Dietary supplementation with safflower oil increased the fat content of the subcutaneous adipose tissue whereas CLA supplementation resulted in decreased (P<0.05) fat content. Dietary supplementation with safflower oil increased (P<0.05) the CLA content of tissues by more than 200% whereas dietary supplementation with CLA did not affect CLA content. Positional distribution analysis indicated that CLA tends was localized to the sn-1/3 positions of TAG and the sn-2 position of the liver PL. / xiii, 74 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.