Effects of early on slaughter and carcass characteristics in crossbred Saanen×Kilis goats

Abstract

The effects of early castration on slaughter and carcass characteristics were investigated in 18 Saanen×Kilis crossbred (B1) male kids, eight of which were castrated at one week of age. The kids were all born during one week as a result of synchronized mating. Kids were penned individually and bottle-fed 110 kg of milk during about 100 days; they had access to hay and concentrate. After weaning, kids were fed 250 g hay daily and concentrate ad libitum. They were slaughtered at about 10 months of age. Mean weights of hot carcass, head, four feet,lung-heart-liver, hide and mesenteric fat were taken. After one day, cold store carcasses were weighed, scored and cut. Dressing percentage did not differ significantly between males and castrates (50.27% vs. 50.44%). The weight ratios of head and hide to slaughter weight were significantly higher in entire males (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), while the weight ratios of mesenteric fat, kidney and channel fat to slaughter weight were higher in castrates (P < 0.01). The ratio of weights of the carcass cuts, neck and rib to cold carcass weight were significantly higher in males than in castrates (P < 0.01), while the ratio of breast to cold carcass weight was significantly higher in castrates than in males (P < 0.01). The proportion of hindquarter (hind leg and loin) to cold carcass weight was higher in castrates than in entire males (36.57% vs. 35.00%); inversely, th proportion of forequarter was higher in entire males (63.23% vs. 57.51%). Scores of live animals and carcasses were slightly better in the castrated group than in the male group. The results showed that early castration did not affect dressing percentage but significantly increased body fat deposition except back fat cover. The proportion of hindquarter in the carcass was also positively affected. It was concluded that kids for fattening should be castrated as early as possible. © 1988.