Study on live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage of Issa camels in Ethiopia

An attempt was made to determine the live weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage of Issa camels of various age groups raised under natural field condition. The mean live weights estimated from Barymetric measurements (shoulder height, thoracic and abdominal girth) were 131.9 +/- 20.3 kg (for calves less than I year of age), 211.6 +/- 20.2 kg (1-3 years of age), 294.6 +/- 13.3 kg (3 - 6 years of age), 355 25 (6 - 10 years of age) and 425.9 +/- 6.9 kg (older than 10 years of age). A strong positive correlation was obtained between live weight estimates and barymetric measurements, the superior being with thoracic girth (r = 0.96). Issa camels slaughtered at Dire Dawa slaughterhouse had an average carcass weight of 233.4 kg and dressing percentage of 52.7%. Positive correlation effect was confirmed between live weight and dressing percentage (r = 0.77) and between carcass weight and dressing percentage (r = 0.47). While a negative relationship was found between live weight and dressing percentage (r = -0.2). Forequarters followed by the hindquarters constitute the highest proportion of the carcass in relation to the live body weight and whole carcass weight.