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Sheep meat production in the Brazilian semi-arid region: crossing between indigenous breeds

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Abstract

Investigations in the Brazilian semi-arid region evaluating the performance and carcass traits of sheep of indigenous breeds and their crossings have been performed; however, these studies use exotic breeds which produce precocious lambs with heavier carcasses, but not adapted to climatic conditions and the extensive production system, jeopardizing the sustainability of the sheep production system. We crossed between three indigenous breeds: Morada Nova (MN — maternal breed); Rabo Largo (RL — paternal breed), and Santa Inês (SI — paternal breed) with the objective of evaluating the effect of genotype and sex on the performance and carcass traits of purebred and crossbred animals. A total of 30 lambs, males and females, reared in a semi-intensive system were evaluated. Birth and weaning weights were 2.26 ± 0.53 and 7.31 ± 1.85, respectively. All lambs were slaughtered at 10 months of age. A completely randomized design in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (three genotypes and two sexes) was used. Multivariate techniques were also performed to reduce group and discriminate variables. Birth and weaning weight were similar (P > 0.05) among genetic groups and sexes. The weight gain, carcass and morphometric trait characteristics, and the main commercial cuts were higher in crossbred lambs (P < 0.05). All indicators have discriminatory power between genotypes and sexes, but the carcass traits have a higher discriminatory power (P < 0.001). All genotypes, regardless of sex, have particular characteristics, i.e. MN × SI was characterized by greater forelimb and ham perimeters (P < 0.001), and the MN × RL by higher hot carcass weight and finish (P = 0.001). The cluster analysis and the heatmap plot revealed associations between SI and the size of cuts and RL with the cut commercial yield and the reduction in weight loss due to cooling. Our findings confirm the hypothesis that crossing between indigenous breeds represents an adequate alternative in sheep meat production systems in semi-arid regions. Finally, we encourage the use of indigenous breeds for sheep meat production with breed identity in order to favor the conservation of genetic resources and the sustainability of the production system.

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Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Abbreviations

♀:

Female

♂:

Male

BY:

Biological yield

BL:

Body length

Bth.W:

Birth weight

CCY:

Cold carcass yield

CCW:

Cold carcass weight

CG:

Chest girth

CON:

Conformation of carcass

CWL:

Cooling weight loss

DWG:

Daily weight gain

EBW:

Empty body weight

FCW:

Fasting carcass weight

FIN:

Finish

FP:

Forelimb perimeter

HCW:

Hot carcass weight

HCY:

Hot carcass yield

HCA:

Hierarchical cluster analysis

HiP:

Hindlimb perimeter

HL:

Ham length

HP:

Ham perimeter

LEA:

Loin eye area

LL:

Longissimus lumborum

MN:

Morada Nova

PC:

Principal components

FA:

Factor analysis

RL:

Rabo Largo

RHCW:

Right half of the carcass weight

SI:

Santa Inês

SFT:

Subcutaneous fat thickness

TWG:

Total weight gain

WW:

Weaning weight

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Acknowledgements

This investigation was carried out as a result of a Master’s degree in Animal Science by Natan Donato Roriz in the Postgraduate Program in Animal Science at the Acaraú Valley State University (UVA).

Funding

The Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP)—Research Productivity Scholarship Program, Bolsa de Produtividade em Pesquisa, Estímulo à Interiorização e a Inovação Tecnológica – BPI02/2020. To Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for post-graduation scholarships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, State University of Acaraú Valley (UVA), Sobral, CE, 62040-370, Brazil

    Aline Vieira Landim, Natan Donato Roriz, Hélio Henrique Araújo Costa & Genilson César Alves

  2. Department of Animal Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP, 13.418-900, Brazil

    Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira & Gerson Barreto Mourão

  3. Department of Veterinary Sciences, UNINTA University Center, Sobral, CE, Brazil

    Wilder Hernando Ortiz Vega

  4. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, MG, 36570-90, Brazil

    Luiz Carlos Oliveira de Sousa

  5. Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid (UFERSA), Mossoró, RN, 59625-900, Brazil

    Josiel Ferreira

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  1. Aline Vieira Landim
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  2. Natan Donato Roriz
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  3. Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira
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  4. Wilder Hernando Ortiz Vega
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  5. Hélio Henrique Araújo Costa
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  6. Luiz Carlos Oliveira de Sousa
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  7. Genilson César Alves
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  8. Josiel Ferreira
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  9. Gerson Barreto Mourão
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Contributions

Conceptualization: [AV Landim], [HHA Costa]; Methodology: [ND Roriz], [HHA Costa], [AV Landim], [LCO de Sousa]; Statistical analysis: [RMF Silveira], [WHO Vega]; Writing—preparing the original draft: [ND Roriz], [RMF Silveira]; Writing – review and editing; [HHA Costa], [LCO de Sousa], [J. Ferreira], [WHO Vega], [GC Alves], [AV Landim] [GB Mourão]; Supervision: [AV Landim]. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira.

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Declaration of animal rights

All clinical procedures and examinations were approved by the Ethical Committee Use Animals from State University of Acaraú Valley (Protocol nº 003.04.015.UVA.504.02).

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Landim, A.V., Roriz, N.D., Silveira, R.M.F. et al. Sheep meat production in the Brazilian semi-arid region: crossing between indigenous breeds. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 510 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02947-1

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