Studies with the Australian cashmere goat, 2. Effects of dietary protein concentration and feeding level on body composition of male and female goats
1987
Ash, A.J. | Norton, B.W. (Queensland Univ., St Lucia (Australia). Dept. of Agriculture)
The effects of plane of nutrition and dietary crude protein concentration on body composition of male and female weaner goats were studied in a comparative slaughter experiment. There was no effect of dietary crude protein concentration on the chemical composition of the empty body weight (EBW) gain or on carcass tissue distribution. This was attributed to similar levels of protein-energy available at the small intestine despite large differences in crude protein intake. Ad libitum feeding, however, resulted in significantly more fat and less water in the composition of the gain compared with restricted feeding. There was no effect of feeding level on protein or ash content of the body. Goats fed ad libitum had significantly less muscle and more dissectible fat in their carcasses than kids restricted in their intake. Females had significantly more fat but less water and nitrogen in their body gain than did males. Similarly the carcass of females contained more dissectible fat but less bone and muscle than males. The efficiency of utilization of dietary energy for growth and fattening was similar for all groups of kids.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation