Effects of age and period of fattening on carcass and non-carcass characteristics of one-humped camels.

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the carcass characteristics and quantity of carcass and non-carcass components of 2- and 3-year-old male camels fattened for either 3 or 6months. Twelve 2-year-old camels with an average body live weight of 268.5 ± 21.4kg and twelve 3-year-old camels with an average body live weight of 307.5 ± 29.9kg were used in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. For carcass analysis, three camels from each group were selected and slaughtered. The results showed that camel age and fattening period had no significant effect on average daily gain (ADG). Older camels and a longer fattening period resulted in heavier hot and cold carcass weights. Three-year-old camels had a higher dressing percentage compared to 2-year-old camels, regardless of the period of fattening. Analysis of non-carcass components showed that the heaviest component was the hide and 2-year-old camels fattened for 90days had the greatest weight of hide as percentage of cold carcass weight. Total muscle weight was greater for the 3-year-old camels compared to the 2-year-old ones, regardless of the fattening period, and camels fattened for 180days had heavier weight than those fattened for 90days, regardless of age at fattening. However, the greatest weight of total muscle was detected in camels at 2years of age fattened for 180days when it was expressed as percentage of carcass weight. The highest and the lowest total fat content as kilogram or as percentage of cold carcass was observed in 3-year-old camels fattened for 180days and 2-year-old camels fattened for 180 days, respectively. Our results suggested that the best age for slaughtering is 2years old with the fattening period of 180days.