Studies on the meat production characteristics of Botswana goats and sheep -part III: Carcase tissue composition and distribution

In this paper data concerning the tissue composition and distribution in the carcases of Botswana smallstock (goats and sheep) of different age and sex groupings are discussed. These data were collected for use in the Botswana Smallstock Improvement Programme, which is designed to improve meat production from the indigenous goats and sheep of Botswana. This programme, together with the data on live measurement, general body composition and carcase joint composition, has been described in the previous papers in this series. The data presented showed that, generally, indigenous Botswana sheep were fatter and earlier maturing than goats at similar ages. The sheep were still found to be significantly fatter when the data were statistically analysed and corrected for differences in empty body weight. In the case of the milk tooth male goats, castration increased the rate of maturity and the level of fat in the carcase. Similar data obtained on male Boer goats (which are to be used as a meat improver breed) showed that these animals produced both bigger and leaner carcases than indigenous goats of similar age. These differences were significant when the two groups were compared statistically after corrections for body weight differences.