Effect of Nutrition and Castration on carcass Measurements, Wholesale Cuts and Carcass Composition of Male Desert Goats

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in desert goats to evaluate the effect of nutrition and castration on carcass measurements, wholesale cuts and carcass composition of male desert goats. Seventy two male desert goats aged 4-5 months and weighing 12.1Kg were used in this experiment. The goats were divided randomly into three groups; each group (24 goats) was subdivided into two sub groups (12 goats) in Factorial experimental randomized design. The results revealed that nutrition and castration had no significant effect (p>0.05) on carcass length. Internal chest length, external chest length, distal foreleg length, proximal foreleg length, proximal hind leg length, foreleg circumference, hind leg circumference and eye muscle area were significantly affected (p<0.05) by nutrition, On the other hand, castration had no significant effects (p>0.05) on these measurements. Forequarter, rack, breast percentages had significantly affected (p<0.01) by nutrition, on the other hand, castration had no significant effect (p>0.05)   on these cuts except loin cut percentage. Carcass dissected revealed that nutrition had greater muscle, bone and fat compared with grazing group. On the other hand, castration had no significant effect (p>0.05) on carcass composition except muscle to fat ratio where significantly affected (p<0.05) by castration and interaction of nutrition and castration.