Preslaughter management practices influence carcass characteristics of young goats

Abstract

Effects of sex, weaning 3 weeks before slaughter, continuous fasting and water deprivation for up to 72 h, and initial liveweight (LW) and body condition score (CS) on LW and carcass characteristics were studied in 231 goats of ~16 weeks of age with a LW of 13.6 ± 2.4 kg (mean ± s.d.). Overall, the animals lost 5.9% of initial LW during the first 12 h of fasting, 7.5% by 24 h, 10.8% by 48 h and 14.1% by 72 h. Weaned goats lost 2.6% more LW than non-weaned goats after 48 h fasting, and animals denied access to water lost 1.5% more LW than those with access to water. Fasting period, weaning status, water availability and CS influenced dressing out percentage determined as percentage initial LW or percentage preslaughter LW. All six factors investigated significantly influenced hot carcass weight (HCW), retail meat yield (kg) and L2 (lumbar eye muscle site) tissue depth. Sex, weaning, fasting period, and initial LW and CS influenced retail meat yield (as a percentage of HCW) and GR (12th rib) tissue depth. Muscle colour score was affected by initial LW, water availability and fasting period. There was also a fasting period × sex interaction for muscle colour. The results provide information for estimation of carcass characteristics of young goats marketed for meat and demonstrate that preslaughter management of young goats influences factors that affect economic returns. They reinforce the need to minimise time off feed and water before slaughter of young goat kids, from both a welfare and an economic perspective, and for further research on preslaughter management factors that may influence welfare of goats and goat meat quality.