Does early weaning of improved Jezersko-Solčava x Texel lambs affect growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality?

Cividini, Angela (author), Bizjak, Marko (author), Flisar, Tina (author), Kuhar, Mojca (author), Lušnic Polak, Mateja (author)

A total of 24 crossbred Improved Jezersko-Solčava x Texel (JSRT) lambs were included to investigate the effect of lamb age at weaning on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Lambs were randomly divided into two groups according to weaning age (early at 50 days vs. late at 75 days). Both early-weaned (6 males, 6 females) and late-weaned (6 males, 6 females) groups were fed with the same hay and concentrates ad libitum until slaughter at an average weight of 36.5 kg. The results indicated that the carcasses of early-weaned male lambs had a lower fat content than the late-weaned male lambs, however, there were no differences in carcass fatness between early- and late-weaned females. These results confirm the differences in the temporal dynamics of fat deposition between the sexes. Early weaning shortened the period from birth to slaughter by 11 days. Early weaning resulted in higher live weight gain in JSRT lambs compared to late weaning, primarily due to differences in post-weaning growth. There was no influence of weaning age on meat colour parameters, ultimate pH and sensory traits, except tenderness. Early weaning of male lambs can be recommended as it results in carcasses with less fat, without negative effects on meat or sensory quality traits, and could be economically viable for breeders.

• Language: English
• Keywords: weaning treatment, growth, carcass, meat quality
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 9 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 231, art. 109969
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177908
• UDC: 636.3:637.5
• ISSN on article: 0309-1740
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2025.109969
• COBISS.SI-ID: 253286915
• Publication date in RUL: 13.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Meat science
• Shortened title: Meat sci.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0309-1740
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5276935

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: ovce, jagnjetina, meso, kakovost, klavne lastnosti, odstavitev

Projects

• Funder: Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food
• Funding programme: Rural Development Programme
• Project number: 33117-10001/2018/16
• Name: Rearing various small ruminant breeds for high quality meat and meat products

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: European Innovation Partnership
• Name: Rearing various small ruminant breeds for high quality meat and meat products