Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Europ carcass classification system (ECCS) in discriminating between carcass characteristics and meat quality of fat-tailed (FT) and thin-tailed (TT) lambs. In this study, 45 single male lambs of the breeds Akkaraman (n = 14), Karayaka (n = 15), and Herik (n = 16) were used. The lambs were fed and slaughtered at 40 kg. After analysis, two groups were obtained in respect of meat quality and carcass characteristics. One was Akkaraman and Herik as FT, and the other was Karayaka. The effect of fatness class (FC) on carcass characteristics in FT and TT breeds was generally significant. The effect of FC on meat quality characteristics was significant only in a* and b* and expressed juice traits in TT lambs, while no meat quality parameters were affected in FT lambs. While the effect of conformation on carcass traits was significant in terms of trimmed meat, bone and fat percentages in FT lambs, the effect of conformation class (CC) on meat quality traits was insignificant in both tail structures. In conclusion, FC is more effective than CC in distinguishing carcass and meat quality traits in FT and TT lambs according to EECS. This system could be improved especially meat quality characteristics both FT and TT lamb carcasses.