Carcass measurements, non-carcass components and cut production of local Brazilian Pantaneiro sheep and crossbreeds of Texel and Santa Inês with Pantaneiro

- Pantaneiro females can be used as a maternal line.
- The slaughter of Pantaneiro females should be at smaller body weights than males.
- Texel × Pantaneiro lamb provided carcasses with less body fat.
- Based on the cut production Pantaneiro sheep becomes viable for meat production.

This study aimed to assess and compare the non-carcass components, carcass measurements and meat cut production of Pantaneiro (P) sheep and their Texel (TP) and Santa Inês (SIP) crossbreds. Ninety-six lambs, of which 51 were male and 45 were female, with a mean weaning weight of 15.21 ± 1.25 kg and age of 78 ± 13 days were slaughtered at 32 kg of body weight. TP lambs had greater leg compactness and weight and percentage of pelt, whereas genotypes (G) P and SIP had higher carcass depth. P and SIP females had weights omental fat percentages that were superior to the other animals, whereas SIP females had higher mesenteric fat. TP males had higher production of white viscera. There was no effect of sex, G or interaction for production and percentage of all meat cuts. Pantaneiro lambs and their crosses with meat breeds could be useful in meat production systems under Savannah environmental conditions.