The objectives of this paper were to generate data on physical composition and muscle:bone, muscle:fat and edible portion:bone ratios of the loin of ewes slaughtered at different physiological stages in addition to the possible correlations among the variables analyzed in this study. Twenty-one Santa Inês ewes were distributed to the following physiological stages: EL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered at one day after weaning of the lambs; EWL = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and one more period of approximately 30 days without the lambs and slaughtered afterwards; and ENP = ewes which remained in confinement for 60 days and did not give birth during the year. Muscles and edible and intermuscular fat percentages were similar among physiological stages. The slaughter of ewes at different physiological stages altered the edible portion:bone of the loin ratio. Higher proportions of subcutaneous fat correspond to lower amounts of intermuscular fat in loin or vice-versa.
carcass cuts; correlations; edible portion; Santa Inês
