Influence of sex on goat meat production
1988
Raghavan, G.V. (Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Hyderabad (India). College of Veterinary Science)
Goats have a number of characteristics, such as high reproductive potential, ability to thrive on shrubs, bushes, and tree leaves, and less susceptibility to infectious diseases, that make them suitable as meat producing livestock in developing countries. Males grew faster than females and, generally, the progeny of large breeds grew faster than the progeny of small breeds. Cross-breeding larger with smaller breeds achieved faster growth rates in the progeny. Castrates grow faster than entire males, irrespective of the method of castration (open or emasculation). Limited work suggests that 1-month castrates grew significantly faster compared with intact animals. The dressing percentage is generally lower in females than in males and increases with increased body weight. Higher planes of nutrition improved weight gains and dressing percentage. One-month castrates yielded significantly higher carcass weights compared with intact animals under identical conditions of feeding and management. In yearlings, lean meat and fat contents in the carcass varied from 62 to 65% and from 6.9 to 17.4%, respectively. Lean meat to bone ratios varied from 2.71:1 to 3.6:1. The area of eye muscle increased with increased body weight and this was accompanied by a decrease in bone content.
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