Lamb or hogget meat – A different sensory profile? Extending the fresh meat season in Norway

This study compared the meat sensory profile of lambs (5 months old) and hoggets (17 months old) from two sheep breeds, Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Norwegian Spel (NS). The loin (left and right) samples (M longissimus thoracis et lumborum) from 50 carcasses were analysed for 23 sensory attributes by a trained sensory panel using quantitative descriptive analysis evaluated on an unstructured line scale from 1 (lowest intensity) to 9 (highest intensity). There was an effect (P < 0.05) of animal age on the attributes: odour (fried roasted, sheep and intensity), flavour (fried roasted, gamey, sheep, rancid and liver), hardness, tenderness, fatness, and coarse fibre structural unit. The loin muscles of lambs were scored significantly lower compared to that from the hoggets in all the sensory attributes except rancid odour, flavour, and juiciness. Sheep odour, hardness, and coarse fibre intensity differed between breeds (P < 0.05) – the NWS breed obtained a higher score than the NS breed. Meat from lambs of both breeds and the hogget NS breed was similar in tenderness while that from the NWS hoggets was scored lower by the panel. For the attribute hardness, lambs and hoggets were similar within each breed, except the NS hoggets were similar to NWS lambs. There was an interaction between animal age and breed (P < 0.05) for the fried roasted and gamey odour. The results indicate that animal age has a lower impact on eating quality for the NS breed than for the NWS breed. In the Norwegian scenario, the NS hoggets appear more suitable for supplying fresh out-of-season meat. Results should be confirmed with a larger sample size of both breeds.publishedVersio

Rangeland Grazing Strategies to Lower the Dependency on Imported Concentrates in Norwegian Sheep Meat Production

Norway has vast rangeland resources (292,361 km2) with an estimated carrying capacity of nearly four million sheep and lambs, twice the current number. However, the intensive production system currently applied has led to more concentrate dependency, resulting in heavier animals in addition to poorer utilization of rangelands and homegrown feed. Intensive feeding systems indirectly influence the sustainability of ecosystems by promoting intensive cropping that can deplete soil fertility and threaten landscape preservation and biodiversity. By contrast, extensive grazing systems can produce environmentally and animal-friendly food products and contribute to regulating soil health, water and nutrient cycling, soil carbon sequestration, and recreational environments. In this paper, the economics of current sheep feeding practices in Norway, using a linear programming model, were compared with more extensive systems which allow for higher usage of on-farm feed resources. Changes in current sheep farming practices have the potential to increase lamb meat production relative to mutton production, in addition to improving the year-round supply of fresh meat. The investigated alternatives, using the Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) breed, suggest that delayed lambing is useful only on farms with abundant pastures available for autumn feeding. Lambs achieve a better market price than hoggets and mature sheep. Therefore, based on the current Norwegian meat market and price offered per kilogram of meat for lamb, an increase in NWS lamb production improves farm profits. On the other hand, when the aim is on greater use of homegrown feed and rangelands, this can be achieved through hogget production, and the quantity of concentrates required can be reduced substantially.publishedVersio

Lamb or hogget meat – A different sensory profile? Extending the fresh meat season in Norway

This study compared the meat sensory profile of lambs (5 months old) and hoggets (17 months old) from two sheep breeds, Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Norwegian Spel (NS). The loin (left and right) samples (M longissimus thoracis et lumborum) from 50 carcasses were analysed for 23 sensory attributes by a trained sensory panel using quantitative descriptive analysis evaluated on an unstructured line scale from 1 (lowest intensity) to 9 (highest intensity). There was an effect (P < 0.05) of animal age on the attributes: odour (fried roasted, sheep and intensity), flavour (fried roasted, gamey, sheep, rancid and liver), hardness, tenderness, fatness, and coarse fibre structural unit. The loin muscles of lambs were scored significantly lower compared to that from the hoggets in all the sensory attributes except rancid odour, flavour, and juiciness. Sheep odour, hardness, and coarse fibre intensity differed between breeds (P < 0.05) – the NWS breed obtained a higher score than the NS breed. Meat from lambs of both breeds and the hogget NS breed was similar in tenderness while that from the NWS hoggets was scored lower by the panel. For the attribute hardness, lambs and hoggets were similar within each breed, except the NS hoggets were similar to NWS lambs. There was an interaction between animal age and breed (P < 0.05) for the fried roasted and gamey odour. The results indicate that animal age has a lower impact on eating quality for the NS breed than for the NWS breed. In the Norwegian scenario, the NS hoggets appear more suitable for supplying fresh out-of-season meat. Results should be confirmed with a larger sample size of both breeds

Rangeland Grazing Strategies to Lower the Dependency on Imported Concentrates in Norwegian Sheep Meat Production

Norway has vast rangeland resources (292,361 km2) with an estimated carrying capacity of nearly four million sheep and lambs, twice the current number. However, the intensive production system currently applied has led to more concentrate dependency, resulting in heavier animals in addition to poorer utilization of rangelands and homegrown feed. Intensive feeding systems indirectly influence the sustainability of ecosystems by promoting intensive cropping that can deplete soil fertility and threaten landscape preservation and biodiversity. By contrast, extensive grazing systems can produce environmentally and animal-friendly food products and contribute to regulating soil health, water and nutrient cycling, soil carbon sequestration, and recreational environments. In this paper, the economics of current sheep feeding practices in Norway, using a linear programming model, were compared with more extensive systems which allow for higher usage of on-farm feed resources. Changes in current sheep farming practices have the potential to increase lamb meat production relative to mutton production, in addition to improving the year-round supply of fresh meat. The investigated alternatives, using the Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) breed, suggest that delayed lambing is useful only on farms with abundant pastures available for autumn feeding. Lambs achieve a better market price than hoggets and mature sheep. Therefore, based on the current Norwegian meat market and price offered per kilogram of meat for lamb, an increase in NWS lamb production improves farm profits. On the other hand, when the aim is on greater use of homegrown feed and rangelands, this can be achieved through hogget production, and the quantity of concentrates required can be reduced substantially

An exploratory study of Muslim consumers’ halal meat purchasing intentions in Norway

Although Norway is the largest sheep meat producer in Scandinavia and Norwegian Muslims are expected to double in population in the next decade, the overall local per capita red meat consumption is still low. Meanwhile, Norwegian Muslims’ purchasing preferences on lamb meat products have not been investigated. This paper presents the results of a choice-based conjoint survey which would help stakeholders to understand the niche Muslim immigrant halal meat market and potentially increase meat consumption. Post-hoc market segmentation was performed using latent class analysis, and factors affecting consumers’ purchase intentions were studied within each segment. Results show that purchasing halal meat from a butcher was the top preference while there was a higher willingness to purchase from national supermarkets among younger second-generation Pakistanis. In order to benefit from niche halal meat market, Norwegian supermarkets are recommended to adapt some of the services that halal butchers are offering to their consumers