JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
A study of metabolic differences between fat and meaty Southdown sheep : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Animal Science at Massey University
The level of fatness in sheep meats is a key factor taken into
account by consumers at all levels. With pricing structures offered
to producers now starting to reflect this demand, there is a need
for an increased understanding of the factors which affect the
composition of growth so that the producer will be able to more
efficiently adjust the growth patterns of young animals. The basic
objective in the long term is to develop an animal which grows an
increased proportion of lean tissue more efficiently (Simm and
Smith 1984) . Selection of lean growing animals by existing methods
of body composition estimation is hampered by low correlations with
true composition. The identification of metabolic markers of
genetic merit for lean meat production is being attempted in the
hope that these markers will improve the potential rate of genetic
gain. [From introduction.]