Effects of Crossbreeding and Feed Supplementation on Meat Productivity of Goats in Laos: 2. Body Composition and Meat Quality

Abstract

A 5 month long 2x2 factorial feeding trial was carried out to determine effects of crossbreeding and feed supplementation on meat productivity of goats in Laos. The indigenous goat breed (Lat) was used as the control to compare with the F1 (BT x L) as a result of crossbreeding Lat does with bucks of Bach Thao, an improved goat breed imported from Vietnam. For each genotype, 30 growing male goats at 7 months of age were chosen and equally divided into 2 groups, each being raised under either the traditional feeding regime (free grazing only) or an improved feeding regime including dried cassava hay and mineral block provided ad libitum in addition to the free grazing regime. Observations included feed intake, live weight gain, dressing percentage, body composition, carcass parts, and meat quality. This paper presents body composition and meat quality of the goats as affected by crossbreeding and feed supplementation. Results showed that although there existed significant differences in weight percentage of some organs (legs, lungs and liver) in the body, no significant diferences were observed for meat quality (tenderness, color, pH, drip loss and cooking loss) between Lat and F1 goats under the two different feeding regimes. It was therefore concluded that crossbreeding with Bach Thao bucks imported from Vietnam and feed supplementation (cassava hay and mineral block) well improved meat yield without negative effects on meat quality of goats in Laos.Peer reviewe