Prediction of carcass traits in fattening Chios and Serres lambs using real-time ultrasonography and live body weight measurements pre-slaughter.

The objective of this study was to assess the capability of predicting carcass traits and meat cuts weights, in fattening lambs of indigenous Greek dairy sheep breeds, using ultrasound measurements and live body weight measurements pre-slaughter. A total of 187 lambs of Chios and Serres breeds were involved in the study. Body condition score, live body weight (LBW), and ultrasound measurements of Longissimus lumborum muscle depth (LMD) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) at the lumbar region were recorded pre-slaughter.

Evaluation of Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Footrot and White Line Disease Lesions in Dairy Sheep.

The objectives of this study were to investigate temperature distribution at the sheep hoof and evaluate the reliability and diagnostic performance of infrared thermography (IRT) for the detection of footrot and white line disease (WLD) lesions in intensively reared dairy sheep. Hoof lesions were clinically assessed, and IRT was used to measure temperature distribution on hoof superficial tissue in 600 multiparous ewes. Binary regression models were developed and validated, and receiver operating characteristic curves were estimated to assess the predictive value and diagnostic performance of IRT for the detection of hoof lesions.