One hundred and tree male and female lambs, pure Santa Inês (SS) and crosses between Santa Inês and Texel (TS), Ile de France (FS) and Bergamacia (BS), were used. They were confined in individual cages. The lambs were slaughtered at four weights: 15.0, 25.0, 35.0 and 45.0 kg live weight. After slaughter and cooling of the carcasses, the following cuts were made: neck (PP), rib/flank (PCF), rack (PC), loin (PL), shoulder (PPA) and leg (PPE), these last two without the arms. Necks practically did not vary with the increase of slaughter weights. Necks of TS and FS lambs were smaller, compared to the SS and BS lambs, in most of the studied slaughter weights. Shoulders also did not vary with the increase of slaughter weights with a tendency to decrease. At 45 kg, TS and FS lambs presented greater PPA in relation to SS and BS lambs. In other slaughter weights, pratically there were no considerable PPA differences between the genetic groups. Rib/flanks increased with the increase of slaughter weights, and, in higher slaughter weights, the TS lambs showed greater proportions. For CP, there was practically no difference among slaughter weights. Ile de France females, however, at 35 and 45 kg, showed PCF smaller than FS males. Loins tended to increase with the increase of slaughter weights, but differences were detected in the animals slaughtered at 15.0 kg, in relation to the other slaughter weights. Among the genetic groups there was no difference for the PL. Legs decreased with the increase of slaughter weights. At 35 kg live weight, the male TS and the female FS lambs obtained better PPE in relation to the other genetic groups.
sheeps; crossbreding; sheep meat; slaughter weight
