Small Ruminant Research 160 (2018) 89–94

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Small Ruminant Research

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/smallrumres

Conformation characteristics of suckling lambs carcasses from the Spanish T

local breeds Churra and Castellana and the non-native breed Assaf
determined using digital photographs
Irma Caroa, Rocío Alaiz-Rodríguezb, Victor González-Castrob, Emiliano J. Quintoa,
⁎
Javier Mateoc,
a
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Avenida Ramón y Cajal 7, 47005, Valladolid, Spain
b
Department of Electric Engineering and Systems and Automatic, Engineering School, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, s/n, 24071, León, Spain
c
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, s/n, 24071, León, Spain

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: This study aimed to determine and compare the conformation of suckling lamb carcasses from three sheep
Non-native breed breeds produced in Spain, two local and one non-native. A total of 52 and 55 carcasses from the local breeds
Lamb carcass Churra and Castellana, respectively, and 54 from the non-native breed Assaf (92 male and 69 female in total)
Carcass conformation were evaluated for their conformation characteristics using dorsal- and side-view photographs. Results showed
Meat quality label
that, with similar carcass weight means, Castellana carcasses were longer than Assaf ones and Churra carcasses
tended to have intermediate values. Conformation of Churra carcasses did not significantly differ from that of
Assaf carcasses in the dorsal view. However, the carcass side-view measurements showed significant differences
between the latter and the other two breeds. The thoracic cage of Assaf carcasses was smaller than that of
Castellana and Churra carcasses. No effect of sex on conformation was observed.

1. Introduction
The production of suckling lambs with slaughter weights from 9 to
14 kg is traditional in Mediterranean sheep dairy farms (Sañudo et al.,
1997), and suckling lamb meat is considered a high-quality product
(Gorraiz et al., 2000). Because of this, several European Union’s Pro-
tected Geographical Indication (PGI) quality labels have recognized the
quality of suckling lamb meat in Southern Europe (DOOR, 2017).
Carcass quality, which depends on different meat production fac-
tors, determines the carcass value in the market and indicates to some
extent its butchers yield and the eating quality of its meat. Therefore,
quality classification systems for lamb carcasses have been developed
elsewhere. The European Union classification system used for suckling
lamb carcasses is mainly based on carcass weight, fatness and meat
colour (Regulations EEC No 2137/92 and 461/93–as amended; Miguel
et al., 2003a). Differently from the heavier lambs (carcass weight <
13 kg) classification system, in the above mentioned system con-
formation is not evaluated because light carcasses would be system-
atically penalised (with small scores) due to their naturally poor mor-
phology (Sañudo et al., 2000).
In several studies, the effect of breed and sex on the suckling lamb
carcass characteristics, i.e., fatness, conformation, and joints and tissue
proportions obtained from carcasses, have been investigated (Sañudo
et al., 1997; Pérez et al., 2002; Miguélez et al., 2006; Santos et al.,
2015). These studies have suggested that despite the short range of age
and weight of suckling lambs at the moment of slaughter, differences
related to the above mentioned effects on carcass characteristics can be
found.
There is a considerable number of sheep in the Iberian Peninsula
(according to the annual data from 2016 there was more than 18 mil-
lion head, out of which approximately 10% are dairy ewes; EUROSTAT,
2018). Among the dairy sheep population, dairy ewes from local breeds
represent an important part. They are well adapted to the environ-
mental conditions of their production areas and yield around 1 l per day
of milked milk (De la Fuente et al., 2006). In Spain, the populations of
Churra, one of the major local dairy breeds in numbers, and Castellana
are nearly 500,000 and 54,000 head, respectively. Sheep from these
breeds are mainly reared in the region of ‘Castilla y León’. Both breeds
together with the also local Ojalada breed (with a lower number of
heads) and their crossbreeds are the only breeds allowed in the Spanish
PGI “Lechazo de Castilla y León”, which is located in the region of
Castilla y León.

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: jmato@unileon.es (J. Mateo).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2018.01.013
Received 28 September 2017; Received in revised form 23 January 2018; Accepted 24 January 2018
Available online 31 January 2018
0921-4488/ © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
I. Caro et al. Small Ruminant Research 160 (2018) 89–94

On the other hand, crossbreeding or absorption with high yielding

non-native (foreign-introduced) sheep breeds have been widely used
over the past decades in order to increase the milk production levels
regarding those rendered by local populations. In Spain, Assaf has been
the main breed used for this purpose, being introduced in the Iberian
Peninsula by 1990 (De la Fuente et al., 2006). Assaf is a semi-fat tailed
breed developed from a cross between the fat-tailed breed Awassi and
the non-fat-tailed breed Friesian. The success of this breed consists of its
high milk yield (more than double of the local breeds), good prolificacy,
and good adaptation to intensive systems. Today the estimated number
of Assaf ewes in Spain is 800,000, with about 91,500 of them registered
in the official milk recording system (Dr. Fernando De la Fuente, per-
sonal communication, 2017) Based on its numerical relevance and the
time elapsed since the breed was introduced, in the last years Assaf
lambs were proposed to be included under the above mentioned re-
gional PGI, which resulted in being a polemical matter, arising con-
troversy and rejection among local breed producers.
In spite of the large production of the suckling lambs from Assaf,
Churra and to less extent Castellana breeds and the growing demand
among stakeholders for studies comparing the quality of carcasses from
the local and non-native sheep breeds, little information is available on
their carcass quality traits. To our knowledge, the only studies in this
regard are those by Landa et al. (2004), who studied the carcass char-
acteristics of Assaf breed lambs, Sañudo et al. (1997) and Miguélez
et al. (2006), who studied and compared characteristics of Castellana
and Churra lamb carcasses, and Revilla et al. (2005), who studied and
compared the fatness and conformation of Assaf, Churra and Castellana
lamb carcasses at two different carcass weights. In the latter three
studies, there was evidence on the effect of breed on the quality of
suckling lamb carcasses. Furthermore, De la Fuente et al. (2006) re-
ported higher values in weight at birth and growth rates and lower days
at slaughter in Assaf suckling lambs than in Churra and Castellana ones;
those results, attributed to genetic differences between the local and the
non-native breed, might account for breed-related differences in carcass
characteristics.
This study aimed to assess and compare the conformation of Churra
and Castellana (local breeds) and Assaf (non-native breed) suckling Fig. 1. Structure for hanging carcasses (A) and general layout for photograph collection
lambs carcasses within the weight range common in the market (i.e., (B).
4.5–7 kg) using digital photos taken in slaughterhouses. At the same
time, the eventual effect of sex on carcass conformation was considered.
lamb carcasses (European Union, 1994a, 1994b), and weighed between
An additional specific purpose was, as a case study, to explore the
4.5 and 7 kg, which is the range authorized in the EU’s PGI “Lechazo de
possibility to stablish clear differences in conformation between the
Castilla y León”. As the result of the sampling process, the carcasses
local breeds and the non-native breed.
studied came from 92 male lambs (30 Churra, 34 Castellana and 28
Assaf) and 69 female lambs (22 Churra, 21 Castellana and 26 Assaf).
2. Materials and methods

2.1. Carcass sampling 2.2. Carcass conformation

A total of 161 suckling lamb carcasses were sampled for this ex-
periment (52 from Churra, 55 from Castellana and 54 from Assaf
breeds) in two regional slaughterhouses (Magnus, Arcenillas-Zamora,
and Giresa, Palencia). Sampling took place during three days for Churra
lambs and two days for Castellana and Assaf lambs. The carcasses
sampled were randomly chosen among the available carcasses in the
slaughterhouses each day of sampling. The number of available car-
casses per breed and day was between 64 and 104 and those carcasses
came from lambs reared in 4–8 different farms. Churra and Castellana
carcasses originated from lambs reared in farms affiliated to the cor-
respondent breeders associations in the region of ‘Castilla y León’, Spain
(ANCHE, Palencia, and ANCA, Zamora, respectively; 12 farms for
Churra and 8 for Castellana). On the other hand, the Assaf carcasses
originated from (11) farms belonging to a regional cooperative
(ASOVINO, Zamora, Spain), which were affiliated to the Spanish Assaf
breeders’ association (ASSAFE, Toro, Zamora). All the sampled car-
casses were classified as “Category A (≤7 kg)” and “Quality 1 (pink
meat and fatness score 2 or 3)” following the EU Official Model for light
The conformation characteristics of the suckling lamb carcasses
were determined from the corresponding images (photographs).
Photographs of suckling lamb carcasses have been successfully used for
classification purposes in other studies (Ruiz de Huidobro et al., 2003).
The cold carcasses within 5 and 20 h after the slaughter were weighed
and then hung vertically downwards in a metallic stainless steel
structure at the slaughterhouse. A rotatory (90°) hook was placed on the
structure to hang the carcass through its rear heels (10 cm between
heels) so the images could be taken from the dorsal and side views with
no need to move the camera (Fig. 1). A matte black canvas was placed
behind the structure to maximize the contrast of the carcass with the
background. Two fluorescent lamps designed for industrial inspection
(13 W, colour temperature of 5100 K, and high frequency 25 kHz)
provided homogeneous light reducing shines on carcass surface. Each
lamp was placed on a light stainless steel structure designed and built
specifically for this project, making possible to place the lamp at the
height of the carcass. The images were acquired using a digital reflex
Canon 400D EOS camera, equipped with a 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor

90
I. Caro et al. Small Ruminant Research 160 (2018) 89–94

Fig. 2. Carcass images from the dorsal and side views

showing the conformation measurements analysed.
Dorsal view: TCL, total carcass length; PLL, pelvic
limb length; BuW, buttock width; LW, lumbar width;
BrW, breast width; SW, shoulder width. Side view:
LCL, leg chump-on length; LL, loin length; LD, lumbar
depth; BD, breast depth; VLS, vertical length of
sternum; OLS, oblique length of sternum; TaF, tan-
gent angle of the flank; TaS, tangent angle of
sternum.

Table 1
Conformation measurements taken from the carcass images.

a) Dorsal view

Acronym Description

Total carcass length TCL Length from the horizontal line drawn between the dorsal-upper edges of tarsus-metatarsus joint surfaces to the base of the neck.
Pelvic limb length PLL Vertical length from the dorsal-upper edge of tarsus-metatarsus joint surface to the horizontal line drawn between the femur trochanters
(buttock width).
Buttock width BuW Maximum length between femur trochanters (Fisher and De Boer, 1994).
Lumbar width LW Minimum horizontal distance of the carcass lumbar region (at the level of the penultimate lumbar vertebrae).
Breast width BrW Maximum horizontal distance of the ribcage (Santos et al., 2015).
Shoulder width SW Maximum horizontal distance measured at the level of the scapula from one lateral surface to the other (Abdullah and Qudsieh, 2008).

b) Side view

Acronym Description

Leg chump-on length
Loin length
Lumbar depth
Breast depth
Vertical length of sternum
Oblique length of sternum
Tangent angle of the flank
Tangent angle of the sternum
LCL Vertical length from the lateral-upper edge of tarsus-metatarsus joint surface to the horizontal line draw at the level of the crest of
ilium, where the loin starts (include the saddle and hind leg; Masri et al., 2011).
LL Vertical length from the horizontal line draw at the level of the crest of ilium to the horizontal line drawn at the anterior edge of the
breast.
LD Minimum horizontal distance of the carcass lumbar region.
BD Maximum horizontal distance of the ribcage.
VLS Vertical distance from the base of the xiphoid process to the horizontal line tangent to the lower edge of the breast.
OLS Straight-line distance from the base of the xiphoid process to the lower edge of the breast.
TaF Tangent angle formed by the linear edge of the flank with respect to the vertical axis.
TaS Tangent angle formed by the oblique length of sternum with respect to the horizontal axis

and lens EF-S 18–55 mm. We determined the best camera configuration
during previous configuration tests, which was as follows: vertical po-
sition, minimum possible zoom, diaphragm aperture F11, automatically
set exposure time, exposure compensation −2/3 and daylight white
balance mode. Fig. 2 shows the side and dorsal view images from a
sample carcass. To make the installation easier we used a plastic surface
on the floor with indications of where each of the aforementioned
elements had to be placed, so it could be transported and installed
anywhere. Conformation measurements from dorsal- and right-side
views of the carcass were obtained from the images (Table 1; Fig. 2)
using the Pixel-Fox software (Dietermann & Heuser Solution GmbH,
Greifenstein-Beilstein, Germany). Images including a carcass and a
measure tape on it were used to transform the measures to real scale
(two images with a measure tape on the carcass were taken for each
view and each sampling day).
2.3. Statistical analysis
The general linear model univariate analysis was applied to the data
with breed as fixed factor, sex as random factor, and carcass weight as

91
I. Caro et al. Small Ruminant Research 160 (2018) 89–94

covariate; P < 0.05 was the significant level for the statistical differ-
ences. The least square difference post hoc test was carried out to assess
differences between breeds when the analysis of variance showed sig-
nificance for this factor. Analysis where carried out using the SPSS 24
package (Version 24, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Finally, a principal com-
ponent analysis (PCA) was also carried out. In the PC analysis model all
the lengths, widths and depths described in Table 1 were considered as
variables. Analyses were performed using the MATLAB and Statistic
Toolbox (Release 2016b, MAthWorks, Inc., Natick, MA), centering the
data and using the singular value decomposition algorithm.
3. Results and discussion
The use of digital carcass images for the evaluation of lamb carcass
conformation, as is the case of the present study, has demonstrated to
be feasible and effective. On the one hand, usually, in slaughterhouses,
trained personnel use photographic standards to assess subjectively
carcass conformation, and as demonstrated by Miguel et al. (2003b),
the performance of the subjective grading on suckling lamb carcass
images was not significantly different from direct on-carcass grading.
On the other hand, objective carcass grading using digital images is a
challenge for the lamb meat industry (Einarsson et al., 2014).
The weights (mean ± standard deviation and range) of the carca-
sess of this study were 5.6 ± 0.4 kg and 4.8–6.5 kg for Churra,
5.6 ± 0.4 kg and 4.8–6.4 kg for Castellana, and 5.5 ± 0.4 kg and
4.9–6.2 kg for Assaf; those from male and female carcasses were re-
spectively 5.6 ± 0.4 kg and 4.8-6.5 kg, and 5.5 ± 0.4 kg and
4.8–6.5 kg. Differences in carcass weight between breeds or sexes were
not significant (P > 0.05).
Table 2 shows the conformation measurements of suckling lamb
carcasses from Churra, Castellana and Assaf breeds obtained from the
dorsal and the side carcass views. In spite of having a similar carcass
weight, breed affected most of the conformation measurements, espe-
cially those obtained from the side view (P < 0.05–P < 0.01). Cas-
tellana breed carcasses were the longest, with higher total carcass
length and longer leg-chump on, loin and sternum lengths. They also
had a lower compactness index (carcass weight/total carcass length).
Furthermore, they showed a significantly higher buttock width and
breast depth (P < 0.05) and tended to show a higher breast width
(P < 0.1).
On the other hand, Assaf carcasses showed the shortest loin and
sternum (P < 0.05), and the lowest values for lumbar width (P < 0.1)
and depth (P < 0.05). Finally, the values of the conformation mea-
surements of Churra carcasses tended to be between those of the other
two breeds. They did not significantly differ from those of Assaf car-
casses in the dorsal view. However, in the side-view measurements
significant differences between Churra and the other two breeds were
detected for loin length, lumbar depth, and both lengths of the sternum.
The overall results indicated a better carcass conformation in the Assaf
breed, followed by the Churra and then the Castellana. In agreement, a
previous study (Revilla et al., 2005) also reported more compact and
shorter carcasses for the Assaf than for the Churra.
Significant differences in the tangent angles of the flanks and
sternum (Fig. 2) were observed between Assaf carcasses and the other
two breeds, with Assaf showing the lowest values (Table 2). These
differences, together with those observed from the sternum lengths
(shorter in Assaf), reveal a xiphoid process in a more cranial position
and a shorter, smaller and more circular-shaped thoracic cage in Assaf
carcasses than in Churra and Castellana carcasses, with the xiphoid
process in a more caudal position and a larger and more elliptical-
shaped thoracic cage.
Breed effect would be attributed to a genetic effect on size and
precocity (Sañudo et al., 1997). According to Legaz et al. (2008), Assaf
breed in Spain has a high genetic distance with respect to local Spanish
dairy sheep breeds. However, the spreading of this breed in Spain, three
decades ago, occurred basically via male-mediated absorption of local
sheep (De la Fuente et al., 2006), and the highest gene flow among the
Spanish local sheep breeds into the Assaf seemed to be from the Churra
(Legaz et al., 2008). This might partially explain the higher similarity in
carcass conformation between Assaf and Churra than between Assaf
and Castellana.
On the other hand, not significant effect was found for sex or the
interaction breed x sex. The effect of sex on the conformation of suck-
ling lamb carcasses less than 7 kg weight seems to be small because of
the lambs’ young age and narrow weight range. Landa et al. (2004) and
Santos et al. (2007, 2015) found similar results to those of this study,

Table 2
Conformation lengths, widths and depths (cm), tangent angles and ratios related with carcass compactness calculated from photographic images with the dorsal and right-side views of
suckling lamb carcasses from different breeds and sexes.

P-value

Churra Castellana Assaf Male Female B S W

(n = 52) (n = 55) (n = 54) (n = 92) (n = 69)

Dorsal view
Total carcass length (TCL) 75.9 ± 3.4b 78.3 ± 2.5a 73.8 ± 3.0b 76.2 ± 3.5 75.4 ± 3.1 ** NS NS
Pelvic limb length 28.6 ± 1.9 28.7 ± 2.1 27.5 ± 1.7 28.2 ± 2.0 28.3 ± 1.9 NS NS NS
Buttock width 13.3 ± 0.6b 14.2 ± 0.7a 13.4 ± 0.7b 13.6 ± 0.8 13.6 ± 0.8 * NS ***
Lumbar width 10.6 ± 0.7 10.7 ± 0.6 10.1 ± 0.7 10.4 ± 0.7 10.6 ± 0.7 + + ***
Breast width 11.8 ± 1.0 12.4 ± 0.9 11.4 ± 1.2 11.8 ± 1.0 11.9 ± 1.2 + NS **
Shoulder width 11.9 ± 0.7 12.2 ± 0.6 11.3 ± 0.5 11.9 ± 0.8 11.6 ± 0.7 NS NS *
Cascass weigth/TCL 74.7 ± 5.5a 71.1 ± 6.0b 73.9 ± 5.5a 73.6 ± 6.4 72.6 ± 5.1 * NS ***

Side view
Leg-chump on length 37.9 ± 1.7b 40.4 ± 1.5a 37.6 ± 1.3b 38.8 ± 2.0 38.9 ± 1.9 * NS **
Loin length 41.1 ± 2.2b 43.0 ± 1.7a 39.9 ± 2.1c 41.4 ± 2.5 41.3 ± 2.2 * NS ***
Lumbar depth 9.14 ± 0.48b 9.34 ± 0.34a 8.75 ± 0.32c 9.13 ± 0.45 9.01 ± 0.46 * NS **
Breast depth 18.2 ± 1.0b 19.4 ± 0.7a 18.1 ± 0.7b 18.7 ± 1.0 18.4 ± 1.0 ** NS ***
Vertical length of sternum 16.7 ± 1.4b 17.8 ± 1.0a 16.1 ± 1.6c 16.9 ± 1.6 16.9 ± 1.4 ** NS *
Oblique length of sternum 19.0 ± 1.6b 19.9 ± 1.0a 18.0 ± 1.6c 18.9 ± 1.7 19.0 ± 1.6 ** NS *
Tangent angle of the flank 0.426 ± 0.025a 0.419 ± 0.029a 0.374 ± 0.023b 0.408 ± 0.032 0.404 ± 0.035 ** NS NS
Tangent angle of sternum 0.705 ± 0.101a 0.734 ± 0.078a 0.648 ± 0.127b 0.704 ± 0.121 0.685 ± 0.091 * NS NS
Breast depth/loin length 0.447 ± 0.023b 0.452 ± 0.019ab 0.453 ± 0.023a 0.452 ± 0.025 0.447 ± 0.025 * * NS

P-value: Probability level; B, breed (fixed factor); S: sex (random factor); W, weight (covariate) NS, not significant; +, P < 0.1; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.
r: Pearson correlation coefficient between carcass weight and the correspondent conformation measurements (*: P < 0.05).
a,b,c
: Means for breeds in the same row with different letters showed significant differences (P < 0.05) by the Fisher’s least significant difference test.

92
I. Caro et al.
Fig. 3. Principal component (Component 1 and 2) score plot showing the projection of
the factor score coefficients of the carcass lengths, widths and depths described in Table 1
and Fig. 2: TCL, Total carcass length; PLL, Pelvic limb length; BuW, buttock width; LW,
lumbar width; BrW, breast width; SW. shoulder width; LCL, leg chump-on length; LL, loin
length; LD, lumbar depth; BD, breast depth; VLS, vertical length of sternum; OLS, oblique
length of sternum.
Fig. 4. Principal component (Component 1 and 2) score plot showing the projection of
the carcasses sampled according to breed, based on the carcass lengths, widths and depths
as described in Table 1 and Fig. 2.
although Miguélez et al. (2006) found a significant small effect of sex
on suckling lamb carcass conformation.
The results from the PCA are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The PCA was
performed using as variables the carcass lengths, widths and depths.
Component 1 accounted for 64% of the variability. With regard to this
component, all the variables showed positive scores and the highest
scores corresponded to the carcass lengths, and more specifically to
total carcass length and loin length (Fig. 3; TCL and LL, respectively;
scores > 0.4). This indicates a major role of those characteristics on
carcass conformation variability. The component 2 explained only 11%
of the variability observed and divided the carcass lengths in two
93
Small Ruminant Research 160 (2018) 89–94
groups (Fig. 3): the loin, oblique and vertical sternum lengths (LL, OLS
and VLS, respectively), showing positive scores, and the pelvic limb and
total carcass lengths (PLL and TCL, respectively), showing negative
scores.
There was no neat separation of the clusters of samples from each
breed in the PCA sample plot (Fig. 4). Although most of the Castellana
samples were located to the positive side of the component 1 and most
of the Assaf samples to the negative side; Churra samples were equally
distributed between the positive and negative sides. Results indicated,
as seen before, larger carcasses for Castellana, smaller for Assaf and
intermediate for Churra. On the other hand, the distribution of the
carcasses between positive and negative sides with regard to compo-
nent 2 appeared similar for the three breeds.
4. Conclusions
Differences in the conformation characteristics between the suckling
lamb carcasses belonging to different breeds can be detected using di-
gital photographs taken at the slaughterhouse. The analysis of side-view
images showed a better performance than that of dorsal-view images,
i.e. the breed effect was much more evident on side-view measure-
ments. The analysis based on carcass conformation did not allow to
discriminate between carcasses from local and non-native breeds.
However, the most characteristic and relevant difference between the
local breeds and the non-native breed is that the former showed a
longer and more elliptical-shaped thoracic cage. From the present case
study, it can be inferred that the potential inclusion of a non-native
breed in the EU suckling lamb PGI labelling schemes, where typically
only local breeds are allowed, would result in a loss of homogeneity in
the PGI carcass characteristics. Finally, the study confirms that sex has
little or no effect on conformation of suckling lamb carcasses.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors acknowledge that there is no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements
This work has been funded by the Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de
Castilla y León (ITACyL) and the University of León. We thank ANCHE
and ANCA breeders’ associations, ASOVINO cooperative and the col-
laborator slaughterhouses.
References
Abdullah, A.Y., Qudsieh, R.I., 2008. Carcass characteristics of Awassi ram lambs
slaughtered at different weights. Livest. Sci. 117, 165–175.
DOOR, 2017. Data Base of Origin and Registration Agriculture and Rural Development.
European Commision Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/
door/list.html?locale=en.
De la Fuente, L.F., Gabiña, D., Carolino, N., Ugarte, E., 2006. The Awassi and Assaf breeds
in Spain and Portugal. In: 57th Annual Meeting of the European Association for
Animal Production (EAAP). Sheep and Goat Commission, Session 14, Paper S14.2.
Antalya, Turkey.
De la Fuente, F., 2017. Personal communication.
EUROSTAT, 2018. EUROSTAT Database. European Commision, Brussels Retreived from:
http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database.
Einarsson, E., Eythórsdóttir, E., Smith, C.R., Jónmundsson, J.V., 2014. The ability of
video image analysis to predict lean meat yield and EUROP score of lamb carcasses.
Animal 8, 1170–1177.
European Union, 1994. Council Regulation (EC) No 1278/94 of 30 May 1994 amending
Regulation (EEC) No 338/91 determining the Community standard quality of fresh or
chilled sheep carcases and Regulation (EEC) No 2137/92 concerning the Community
scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals and determining the
Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases. Off. J. L 140, 03/
06/94.
European Union, 1994b. Community Scale for the Classification of Carcasses of Light
Lambs. Office for the Official Publications of the European Communities,
Luxembourg Brochure No. CM-84-94-703-EN-D.
Fisher, A.V., De Boer, H., 1994. The EAAP standard method of sheep carcass assessment.
Carcass measurements and dissection procedures. Report of the EAAP Working Group
on Carcass Evaluation, in cooperation with the CIHEAM Instituto Agronómico
I. Caro et al.
Mediterráneo of Zaragoza and the CEC Directorate General for Agriculture in
Brussels. Livest. Prod. Sci. 38, 149–159.
Gorraiz, C., Beriain, M.J., Chasco, J., Iraizoz, M., 2000. Descriptive analysis of meat from
young ruminants in Mediterranean systems. J. Sens. Stud. 15, 137–150.
Landa, R., Lavín, P., Frutos, P., Mantecón, A.R., Giráldez, F.J., 2004. Animal performance
and carcass quality of milk-fed Assaf lambs. Options Méditerranéennes 59, 85–89.
Legaz, E., Álvarez, I., Royo, L.J., Fernández, I., Gutiérrez, J.P., Goyache, F., 2008. Genetic
relationships between Spanish Assaf (Assaf.E) and Spanish native dairy sheep breeds.
Small Rum. Res. 80, 39–44.
Masri, A.Y., Lambe, N.R., Macfarlane, J.M., Brotherstone, S., Haresign, W., Bünger, L.,
2011. Evaluating the effects of the c.*1232G > a mutation and TM-QTL in
Texel × Welsh Mountain lambs using ultrasound and video image analyses. Small
Rum. Res. 99, 99–109.
Miguélez, E., Zumalacárregui, J.M., Osorio, M.T., Beteta, O., Mateo, J., 2006. Carcass
characteristics of suckling lambs protected by the PGI “Lechazo de Castilla y León”
European quality label: effect of breed sex and carcass weight. Meat Sci. 73, 82–89.
Miguel, E., Onega, E., Cañeque, V., Velasco, S., Díaz, M.T., Lauzurica, S., Pérez, C.,
Blázquez, B., Ruiz de Huidobro, F., 2003a. Carcass classification in suckling lambs.
Discrimination ability of the European Union scale. Meat Sci. 63, 107–117.
Miguel, E., Ruiz de Huidobro, F., Díaz, M.T., Velasco, S., Lauzurica, S., Pérez, C., Onega,
E., Blázquez, B., Cañeque, V., 2003b. Methods of carcass classification based on
subjective assessments of carcass fatness and of carcass conformation: effect of sex on
the prediction of tissue composition in carcasses of sucking lambs. Anim. Sci. 77,
94
Small Ruminant Research 160 (2018) 89–94
383–393.
Pérez, P., Maino, M., Tomic, G., Mardones, E., Pokniak, J., 2002. Carcass characteristics
and meat quality of Suffolk Down suckling lambs. Small Rum. Res 44, 233–240.
Revilla, I., García-Martín, M.A., Vivar-Quintana, A.M., 2005. Efecto del peso y edad sobre
las características de engrasamiento y conformación de canales de lechazo para
distintas razas. XXXVII Jornadas de Estudio y XI Jornadas sobre Producción Animal.
ITEA, vol. Extra, 26, Tomo II, pp. 673–675. Zaragoza, Spain.
Ruiz de Huidobro, F., Miguel, E., Díaz, M.T., Velasco, S., Lauzurica, S., Pérez, C., Onega,
E., Blázquez, B., Cañeque, V., Santos, V.A.C., Cabo, A., Raposo, P., Silva, J.A.,
Azevedo, J.M.T., Silva, S.R., 2003. Carcass classification in suckling lambs. II: com-
parison among subjective carcass classification methods: fatness scales and con-
formation scales with 0. 25 point-intervals. Meat Sci. 66, 135–142.
Sañudo, C., Campo, M.M., Sierra, I.M., María, G.A., Olleta, J.L., Santolaria, P., 1997.
Breed effect on carcass and meat quality of suckling lambs. Meat Sci. 46, 357–365.
Sañudo, C., Alfonso, M., Sánchez, A., Delfa, R., Teixeira, A., 2000. Carcass and meat
quality in light lambs from different fat classes in the EU carcass classification system.
Meat Sci. 56, 89–94.
Santos, V.A.C., Silva, S.R., Mena, E.G., Azevedo, J.M.T., 2007. Live weight and sex effects
on carcass and meat quality of “Borrego terrincho–PDO” suckling lambs. Meat Sci.
77, 654–661.
Santos, V.A.C., Cabo, A., Raposo, P., Silva, J.A., Azevedo, J.M.T., Silva, S.R., 2015. The
effect of carcass weight and sex on carcass composition and meat quality of Cordeiro
Mirandês—protected designation of origin lambs. Small Rum. Res. 130, 136–140.