Canonical correlation analysis of body measurements, growth performance and carcass traits of Red Karaman lambs

Three body measurements including Height at Wither (HTW), Heart Girth Circumference (HGC) and Body Length (BL) were obtained from 14 Red Karaman fat tailed male lambs at birth and were organized in a set of body measurements at birth. All lambs were allowed to grazing on pasture after weaning and fattened during the last 75 days before slaughter. Measurements of Birth Weight (BW), Weaning Weight (WW), Post Grazing Weight (PGW) and Average Daily Gain (ADG) were recorded and set as a growth by arranging set of variables. Cold Carcass Weight (CCW), Dressing Percentage (DP), loin Eye Muscle Area (EMA) and Tail Fat weight (TF) were recorded and arranged as a carcass traits set of variables. Two different canonical correlation analyses were performed to identify the associations between body measurements at birth and also growth performances with carcass traits. The first analysis used 3 body measurements (HTW, HGC, BL) as one set of independent variables, the second analysis used 4 growth performance measurements (BW, WW, PGW, ADG) as independent variables. Both analyses used four carcass traits (CCW, DP, EMA, TF) as the dependent set of variables. The second and following sequential canonical correlations were higher in the analysis using growth records (0.99-0.86) than in those using measurements at birth (0.94-0.72) while first canonical correlations were similar (0.99) in both analyses. Two indexes are suggested by this study. The size at birth index emphasizes size and large lambs that consume large amount of feed have dependent higher carcass traits. The independent growth performances index, emphasizes weight and heavier lambs have higher carcass traits. High and statistically significant canonical correlations were found from the general framework of relationship between body measurements, growth performances and important carcass traits in Red Karaman male lambs.