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Abstract
Lamb carcass value is widely reported to be a function of lean meat yield, which is
the relationship between muscle, fat and bone. Five retailers and five wholesalers
assessed 47 lamb carcasses from diverse genotypes and scored seven attributes. A
hedonic model reveals that conformation attributes were more highly valued (16 c/kg)
relative to yield characteristics (4 c/kg). Meat colour and fat distribution were
significant for retailers, but less important for wholesalers. Genotype was not a strong
indicator of conformation. Eye muscle area and depth were correlated with Fat C;
however, these were not significant. These results indicate that carcass conformation,
meat colour and fat distribution should be incorporated into carcass grading models.