Breed type and sex effects on carcass traits, composition and tenderness of young goats

Abstract

Seventy-five goats of three breed groups (Florida native (FN), Nubian × Florida native (NF), Spanish × Florida native (SF)) and three sex classes (female, intact male, castrate) were used to study factors affecting carcass and meat characteristics. Goats were fed predominantly a forage diet and slaughtered at the Meat Science Laboratory, Gainesville, FL. NF crosses had the heaviest slaughter and carcass weights when compared to the other breed types. Dressing percentage and individual dress-off items were not affected by breed. Breed type had very little effect on carcass quality and yield indicators. Carcasses from FN goats had higher percentages of fat and lower percentages of bone than did NF or SF carcasses. Breed type did not affect percentage fat-free lean in the side or fat-free lean to bone ratio. Breed type had no effect on Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) values for muscles from the leg and loin. In contrast, female goats had lower percentages of feet, pelt, liver, heart and kidney when compared to the other sex classes. Male carcasses had softer flank firmness, less marbling but lighter lean color scores than did castrate or female carcasses. Male carcasses had less actual and adjusted fat opposite the ribeye and less estimated kidney and pelvic fat. Sides from male goats had less fat and more fat-free lean than did castrate or female carcasses. Castrates had the lowest fat-free lean to bone ratio of the three sex classes. WBS values from female carcasses indicated more tender muscles than from castrate or intact male carcasses. This study suggested that sex class had a greater influence on carcass characteristics than did breed type.