Body weight and in-vivo assessed slaughter performance in Olkuska sheep lambs

In-vivo meat performance in lambs of highly prolific Olkuska sheep was evaluated using ultrasonic measurements (Aloka scanner, linear probe 3.5 MHz). Scanning was carried out twice, at the age of 4 months in both sexes and the age of 6 months in ewe-lambs only. Two pictures of cross section of m. l. d at the last rib, right body side, were taken for each animal at each recording. At the age of 120 days, ewe lambs reached body weight of 26.34′1.08 kg, and their in-vivo measurements were as follows: muscle area 6.81′0.37 cm 2 , muscle depth 1.95 ′0.06 cm; muscle height 4.76′0.14 cm and fat depth 0.20′0.01 cm. At the age of 180 days, the average trait values were: 33.51′1.21 kg, 8.63′0.34 cm 2 , 5.43′0.09 cm, 2.08′0.05 cm and 0.27′0.01 cm respectively. The ram lambs expressed traits at slightly higher level. At an average body weight of 30.24′1.40 kg their muscle area was 7.26′0.47 cm 2 , muscle depth and width 1.99′0.08 cm and 4.81′0.13 cm and fat depth 0.21′0.02 cm. These results indicate lower meat performance in Olkuska lambs in comparison with lambs of dam breeds, like Polish Merino and Polish Lowland sheep.