A non-invasive approach to characterizing meat potential in the conservation-priority Kaçeli sheep breed using ultrasonography.

The Kaçeli sheep is a critically endangered indigenous breed of Western Anatolia with limited information on productive performance, restricting its effective use in conservation and breeding programmes. This study evaluated growth and ultrasound-derived carcass traits of Kaçeli lambs and examined the relationships among these traits to support sustainable utilization of this genetic resource. Data were collected from a near-census population of 243 lambs raised in three conservation farms. At an average age of 213 days, least squares means were 32.8 kg for live weight, 142 g/day for average daily gain, 2.37 cm for muscle depth, 0.34 cm for backfat thickness, and 0.52 cm for skin plus backfat thickness. Year of birth and farm significantly affected all traits (p < 0.001), indicating the importance of environmental and management conditions in conservation flocks. Males exhibited higher growth performance, whereas females showed greater fat and muscle deposition. Live weight showed positive and significant correlations with ultrasound traits, particularly backfat (r = 0.61) and skin plus backfat thickness (r = 0.64). The results reveal substantial phenotypic variability and demonstrate that Kaçeli sheep possess measurable production potential alongside conservation value. The integration of ultrasound-based carcass evaluation into conservation programmes can provide practical selection criteria and enhance the sustainable utilization of this endangered breed under local production conditions.