Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

F. Ringdorfer, R. Leitgeb and R. Tscheliesnig:

The effect of genotype, sex and final weight on growth and slaughter performance and meat quality of goat kids

Summary

In an experiment with 79 kids the effect of genotype (40 pure bred Boer kids and 39 F1 crossbred kids Saanen x Boer), sex (male and castrated male) and the final live weight (30 and 40 kg) on growth and slaughter performance was investigated. Kids were fed individually with hay, grass silage and concentrate (2.5 % of LW). Average daily gain was higher in pure bred kids than in crossbred (169 and 158g) and was higher in intact male than in castrated male (176 and 151g). Feed efficiency was negatively influenced by castration and high final weight (≈ 1kg DM/10 kg LW gain). Castrated male and heavy kids had significantly better dressing percentage (50.2 and 51.6 %) than male or light kids (49.2 and 48.0 %). Pure breed Boer goats had a tendentious better dressing percentage than crossbred (50.2 and 49.3 %). Kidney fat was higher in crossbred, castrated and heavy kids than in pure breed and male kids. The proportion of fat in leg and shoulder was higher in castrated and heavy kids than in male and light kids. Genotype, sex and final weight had no effect on pH-value 1 hour after slaughtering, however, pH-value 24 hours after slaughtering was lower in heavy than in light kids (5.81 and 5.92). Castrated and heavy kids showed with 63.1 and 62.8 % significant higher content of saturated fatty acids than in male and light kids with 60.3 and 60.5 %, respectively. Owing to the growth and slaughter performance and composition of leg and shoulder meat the final live weight should not be more than 30 kg and up to this weight castration is not necessary. Key words: Goat, kids, growth performance, slaughter performance, sex, live weight.