Effect of age on carcass characteristics and meat quality of Sirohi goat kids reared under semi-intensive and intensive management systems

Performance of male Sirohi goat kids reared under intensive (N=18) and semi-intensive (N=18) management systems was studied. Nine kids from each group were slaughtered at 9 and 12 months of age to study the carcass traits, meat production profile and quality. Kids under intensive feeding were offered concentrate (200 g/head/day), seasonal green fodder (1 kg) and ad lib. dry roughages. Under semi-intensive system, kids were allowed 4_5 h daily grazing and supplemented with 100 g concentrate with ad lib. dry roughages. Kids reared under intensive system attained 28.47 kg slaughter weight (SW), i.e.16.11% more as compared to 24.52 kg under semi-intensive system at 9 months. At 12 months of age, increase slaughter weight was 15.92%. Hot carcass weight and dressing percentage were significantly (P0.01) higher between two management systems at the age of 12 months. Depot fat particularly, omental fat weight, was significantly (P0.05) higher under intensive management system than under semi-intensive system in both the age groups. Rearing system did not affect many of the meat quality traits (water holding capacity, water activity and extract release volume) in both the age groups. pH (5.53 vs 5.76) and titrable acidity (3.56 vs 3.86) were significantly different between rearing system at 9 months of age. Meat of intensively managed kids had lower moisture (73.69, 70.63) and higher fat content (5.88, 9.27) but similar protein and ash content, compared to semi-intensive managed kids in both the age group. Intensive managed kidsandrsquo; meat had slightly higher cholesterol content (70.17mg/100 g) than semi-intensive systems (65.80 mg/100 g). Total body fat was also significantly (P0.01) higher. It is concluded that Sirohi goat kids were more suitable for quality and quantity chevon (goat meat) production slaughtered at 9 months of age under intensive system and 12 months of age under semi-intensive system.