Ostrich slaughter and fabrication. 2. Carcass weights, fabrication yields, and muscle color evaluation

Seven male and seven female ostrich carcasses were fabricated to determine the effect of sex on the yield of bone, fat, and lean on a weight and carcass percentage basis. The 10 heaviest muscles of the ostrich carcass were removed, weighed, and reported on a carcass percentage basis. Muscle color differences also were determined for 10 selected muscles. Sex did not affect carcass composition or muscle color. Across sexes, ostrich carcasses contained 26.9% bone, 9.2% fat, and 62.5% lean. Of the lean portion, 66.2% was found in the 10 major muscles of leg and thigh. The Gastrocnemius, Iliofibularis, and Fibularis longus were the three largest muscles from the carcass. There were differences (P < 0.05) in color between ostrich muscles. Muscles of the inside thigh region were the darkest in color and the Iliotibialis cranialis was the brightest, cherry red in color.