Effect of breed-type and feeding regimen on goat carcass traits

Meat-type (Boer x Spanish and Spanish) goats from two feeding regimens (feedlot and range) were slaughtered and live and carcass weights were obtained. At 24 h after death, various yield and quality measurements were collected. One side from each carcass was fabricated into major wholesale cuts for dissection into major carcass components. Feedlot goats had heavier (P<.05) live and carcass weights and carcasses that yielded more (P<.05) dissectible fat and lean and less (P<.05) bone, as a percentage of carcass weight, than did the carcasses of range goats. In the feedlot environment, Boer x Spanish goats had greater (P<.05) live weights, carcass weights, actual and adjusted fat thicknesses, carcass conformation scores, and leg circumference scores than did Spanish goats of similar age. The only breed-type differences that were significant after adjusting for live weight using analysis of covariance were that Boer x Spanish goats in the feedlot treatment had greater (P<.05) actual and adjusted fat thickness and carcass conformation than Spanish goats on the feedlot treatment. The Boer x Spanish goat carcass trait advantage could mainly be attributed to their larger size and enhanced capacity for growth.