Utilisation of semi-arid scrubland by goats in the dry season

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 93-94

Effect of season of birth and sex of kid on the production of live weaned single born kids in smallholder East African goat flocks in North East Zimbabwe

An amalgamated flock of traditionally managed Mashona Small East African goats was monitored over a 6 year period. Kids born in the hot dry season were heavier (p 0.05) on weight increase. There was a steady decline in growth rates from age 15 d (60.2 g/ d) to weaning age of 180 d (41.7 g/d). Overall, 19.4% of the 294 kids born during the study period exited the flocks before age 180 d. Major causes of exits were lost kids and predation, which together accounted for 61% of exits by kids. Seasonal effects on exits were mainly at ages below 30 d where 10.3% of kids born in the hot dry season exited compared to 4.3% and 4.6% for the hot wet and cool dry seasons. Kidding intervals were 321 (s.e. 23.6), 325 (s.e. 30.9) and 259 (s.e. 50.1)d for does kidding in the hot dry, hot wet and cool dry seasons, respectively. Due to the slow growth rates and long kidding intervals the flock productivity in terms of weaned live kid weight (kg) per doe per year was low

Carcass characteristics of the marketed Matabele goat from south-western Zimbabwe

Weight, dimensions, composition and yield indices of half-carcasses of 52 male (milk-teethed to full mouth) and 18 mature female (6-8 teeth) goats were examined to provide information on the characteristics of Matebele goat carcasses of different ages and sexes in order to identify those that may be used in an objective appraisal of local goat carcasses. Side length, chest depth, thigh circumference and eye muscle area (EMA) increased significantly (P0.05) with age. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in carcass dimensions between sexes of mature goats, except EMA, which was greater (P0.05). The major difference between carcasses of mature male and female goats was due to the heavier bone and forequarters (

Acceptability of chevon from kids, yearling goats and mature does of indigenous South African goats: a case study

http://www.sasas.co.za/journal/67

Live animal and carcass characteristics of South African indigenous goats

Eighty-nine intact male, castrates and female South African indigenous goats in three age groups (0, 2 - 6 and 8 permanent incisors) and two pre-slaughter conditioning groups; namely, the non-conditioned which were slaughtered within three months of purchase and the pre-slaughter conditioned, which were slaughtered 6 - 10 months after purchase or birth were used. The effect of sex, age and pre-slaughter conditioning on live animal, carcass dimensions and carcass composition were evaluated. The goats were large with live weight, carcass weight and carcass dimensions in the range of the large breeds of southern Africa. They had a high lean and low fat content. Intact males were suited for high chevon yield because they were heavy, had a high lean and low fat content, and losses during dressing and chilling were reduced by improved nutrition. Goats between 2 - 6 teeth yielded heavy carcasses that were comparable to goats in the 8-teeth group, and had proportionately more lean and less carcass fat. The hind limb was ideal for high lean and low fat, high value cuts but the dorsal trunk was bony and yielded less lean. Pre-slaughter conditioning improved the overall size of the goats and reduced the losses during slaughter and chilling. It also improved the lean/bone and lean and fat/bone indices

Efeitos do sexo, do grupo racial e da idade ao abate nas características de carcaça e maciez da carne de caprinos Carcass and meat tenderness of goats according to age, breed group and age at slaughter

Este trabalho foi realizado com os objetivos de quantificar e qualificar a carcaça e os cortes cárneos de cabritos de dois sexos (machos e fêmeas) e três grupos raciais - Alpino; ½ Boer + ½ Alpino (½ BA); e ¾ Boer + ¼ Alpino (¾ BA) - abatidos em três idades (aos 60, 90 e 120 dias de confinamento), visando avaliar o aproveitamento de cabritos provenientes de rebanhos leiteiros. As carcaças foram avaliadas pelas características de peso, rendimento, conformação, gordura de cobertura, comprimento interno e externo, comprimento da perna, perímetro da garupa, profundidade torácica, largura da garupa, compacidade, rendimento dos cortes cárneos e proporção dos tecidos. Os dados foram analisados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial incompleto 2 X 3 X 3 (2 sexos X 3 grupos raciais X 3 idades de abate). O aumento da idade dos animais promove aumento do peso e das medidas da carcaça, assim como dos componentes comestíveis da carcaça e do rendimento comercial. Mestiços Boer apresentam maior compacidade de perna e menos osso em relação aos Alpinos. O grupo racial, a idade de abate e o sexo não influenciam a maciez da carne.<br>The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the yield and quality of the carcass and meat cuts from kids of both sexes, slaughtered at three different ages, aiming to use animals from dairy herds. Forty-one kids were used, from three breed groups: Alpine, ½ Boer ½ Alpine (½ BA) and ¾ Boer ¼ Alpine (¾ BA), which were slaughtered at 60, 90 or 120 days of slaughter age. The animals were raised in a feedlot system. The following carcass traits were evaluated: carcass weight, commercial yield, conformation, subcutaneous fat, internal and external length, leg length, rump perimeter, thoracic depth, rump width, compactness, meat cut yield and tissue proportion. Meat tenderness was evaluated by means of the Warner-Bratzler shear force. Data were analyzed as an incomplete factorial arrangement (2 sexes X 3 breed groups X 3 slaughter ages), in a complete randomized design. As age increased, so did carcass weight and characteristics, as well as the weight of edible carcass components and commercial yield. The Boer crossbreds showed higher leg compactness and less bone compared to the Alpines. No difference in meat tenderness was observed for breed group, age or sex