Table 3.

Least squares means for the main effect of weight category on lamb carcass characteristics in the Intermountain West over 1 yr¹

Carcass trait2	n	Light	Moderate	Heavy	SEM4	P-value
12th rib fat depth, mm	8,977	6.18c	7.55b	8.88a	0.26	<0.01
Body-wall thickness, mm	8,964	24.21c	28.83b	33.28a	0.77	<0.01
LMA, cm2	8,978	14.19c	16.05b	18.17a	0.27	<0.01
%BCTRC3	8,961	45.52c	44.04b	42.72a	0.20	<0.01

¹Weight groups are classified by HCW; light = <29.5 kg, moderate = 29.5–38.6 kg, heavy = >38.6 kg.

²Longissimus muscle area (LMA), 12th rib fat, and body-wall thickness were measured between the 12th and 13th ribs of both sides and averaged for analysis.

³Calculated %BCTRC, calculated percentage of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts.

⁴The largest of the SE of the means are shown.

^a,b,c means in the same row that do not share a common superscript letter differ (P < 0.05).