Tecidual composition of carcass of cuts of young and adult sheep

The objective of this work was to evaluate tecidual composition of the cuts carcass of young and adult sheep, in thirty-six 1/2 Ile de France 1/2 Polwarth sheeps (12 uncastrated lambs, 12 ewes and 12 wether). Animals were grown in grazing system based on Tifton-85 pastures and were supplemented with concentrate. Lambs were weaned close to 17 +/- 0.87 kg and slaughtered at 32 kg and about 5 months old. Ewes and wethers were slaughtered close to 55 +/- 1.26 kg and 60 months of age. Higher values of muscle percentage in carcass cuts, were found: in leg, followed by shoulder and Join, among animal categories. Bone percentage in carcass of cuts was higher in lambs than in adult animals. Subcutaneous, intermuscle and total fat in the carcass of cuts were higher in adult than in young animals. Loin had higher value of total fat, followed by shoulder and leg with the smaller value. Animal categories affected tecidual composition of the carcass of cuts, being adipose the main tissue responsable for these differences.