Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part F (2025)

The present study targeted at characterizing and comparing carcass and meat quality traits in Hassan and Kenguri sheep of Karnataka. Six muscle samples (500 gms) were obtained from uncastrated rams (9-12 months) of each breed from slaughter house in the respective breeding tract for meat quality analysis. The pre-slaughter weight (PSW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing percentage were 20.47±0.61 kg, 9.88±0.26 kg and 47.33±0.88 percent, and 30.43±0.77 kg, 12.17±0.17 kg and 42.36±0.27 percent in Hassan and Kenguri sheep, respectively. The mean carcass measurements viz., carcass length, buttock circumference, buttock width, chest circumference, chest depth, chest width, shoulder circumference, leg length, loin eye area and back fat thickness were 71.33±0.66 cm, 35.00±0.57 cm, 12.80±0.60 cm, 63.00±0.57 cm, 16.00±0.01 cm, 30.66±0.33 cm, 6.83±0.33 cm, 26.33±0.88 cm, 13.49±0.18 cm² and 0.16±0.03 cm in Hassan sheep, respectively and 77.00±0.52 cm, 36.33±0.33 cm, 15.30±0.80 cm, 71.00±0.70 cm, 19.00±0.57 cm, 36.00±0.38 cm, 7.16±0.16 cm, 33.66±0.76 cm, 12.31±0.56 cm² and 0.13±0.08 cm in Kenguri sheep, respectively. The meat quality traits viz., pH, water holding capacity (WHC), Warner-Bratzler Shear Force value and cooking loss were 5.75±0.03, 13.33±0.30 percent, 4.25±0.06 kg/cm² and 26.36±0.13 percent, respectively in Hassan sheep and 5.63±0.01, 10.80±0.18 percent, 4.57±0.08 kg/cm² and 27.02±0.34 percent, respectively in Kenguri sheep. Dressing percentage and Loin Eye Area was significantly higher (p<0.05) in Hassan sheep suggesting greater muscle mass in Hassan sheep. Further, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force value was significantly lesser (p<0.05) in Hassan sheep, indicating tenderness of their meat.