Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the muscles of the neck and shoulder. Such animals are
known as stags and, except for the muscular develop-
ment of the forequarter, differ little in appearance or
quality from the normal bullock.
Calf
In the dressed bobby calf, the male may be recognised by
the presence of testicles and the open external inguinal
ring. A transverse cut with a knife just above the pubic
tubercle will expose the root of the penis. In the heifer
calf, the rudimentary udder remains on the carcase.
Bullock (steer)
The muscles of the neck and crest are not so strongly
developed as in the bull, but fat is more evenly distrib-
uted over the carcase and is particularly abundant in the
pelvic cavity; the scrotal fat is abundant and completely
occludes the external inguinal ring. The pelvic cavity is
narrow and can be spanned with the hand, but although
the pelvic floor is angular and the pubic tubercle is
prominent, these characteristics are not so marked as in
the bull carcase.
The posterior or ischial portion of the gracilis mus-
cle, which presents a triangular appearance, is covered
with fascia and fat, while there is a well-marked bul-
bocavernosus muscle, though this is less strongly
developed than in the bull. Bullock flesh is lighter in
colour than bull flesh and has a brick red colour with
a shiny, marbled appearance due to the presence of
intermuscular fat.
Sheep
Ram
The carcase has strong muscular development of the
forequarter, the inguinal rings are open, and the scrotal
or cod fat is sparse or absent.
Wether
The carcase is usually well proportioned with evenly dis-
tributed fat and abundant, lobulated cod fat. The root of
the penis can be exposed by a transverse section with the
knife above the pubic tubercle and in the wether is no
thicker than an ordinary pencil.
Gimmer
The carcase is characterised by its symmetrical shape
and the presence of a smooth convex udder.
Heifer
In the dressing of the heifer carcase, the udder remains
on each side of beef and is characterised by its smooth
and regular convexity and, on section, by the predomi-
nance of fat and lack of evidence of glandular tissue. The
absence of bulbocavernosus muscle may be noted, and a
useful feature in distinguishing the forequarter of the
heifer or cow from that of the bullock is the enlargement
at the end of the foreshank (radius). In the cow or heifer,
the bone is slim and rather straight, but in the bullock, it
is markedly enlarged. In the heifer or cow, remains of the
broad ligament of the uterus are apparent on the inner
abdominal wall, about a hand's breadth below the angle
of the haunch.
Ewe
The carcase is angular in shape, with long thin neck and
poor legs. The udder is brown and spongy and never sets;
it is removed in dressing, leaving a roughened area on the
outer abdominal wall, though portions of the supramam-
mary lymph nodes frequently remain on the carcase.
Differentiating features of the carcases of the sheep
and goat are shown in Table 2.9.
Table 2.9
Differentiation of carcases of sheep and goat
Feature
Sheep
Goat
Back and
withers
Round and well
fleshed
Sharp, little flesh
Cow
The cow carcase is more slender and less symmetrical
than that of the bull or bullock and shows a long tapering
neck, a wide chest cavity, a curved back and prominent
hips. The pelvic cavity is wide and can scarcely be
spanned with the hand, while the pelvic floor is thin,
only slightly arched, and the pubic tubercle is only
slightly developed. The exposed gracilis muscle is cres-
centic or bean-shaped, but no bulbocavernosus muscle is
present. The udder, except occasionally in animals which
have had only one calf, is removed, leaving a triangular
ragged space on the outer aspect of the abdominal wall.
In the cow, both external fat and internal fat are irregu-
larly distributed and yellowish in colour.
Thorax
Barrel-shaped
Flattened laterally
Tail
Fairly broad
Thin
Radius
1½ times length of
metacarpus
Twice as long as metacarpus
Scapula
Short and broad.
Superior spine, bent
back and thickened
Possesses distinct neck. Spine
straight and narrow
Sacrum
Lateral borders
thickened in form
of rolls
Lateral borders thin and sharp
Flesh
Pale red and fine in
texture
Dark red coarse with goaty
odour. Sticky subcutaneous
tissue which may have
adherent goat hairs
