Meat from Sudan desert sheep and goats: Part 1-Carcass yield, offals and distribution of carcass tissues

Twenty yearling, male Sudan desert sheep and a similar number of desert goats were used in the study. Within each species the animals were equally divided into two groups. Each group was randomly assigned to control or fattened treatment. The control group was slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment and the fattened group slaughtered after 60 days in feedlot. Feedlot performance, slaughter and carcass data were collected. Sheep made faster gains and utilized food more efficiently than goats. The difference between sheep and goats (d) in overall body gain per head was 4·9 ± 0·67 kg. Sheep had heavier carcasses (d = 0·70 ± 0·19 kg) and side fat (d = 0·19 ± 0·06 kg) than goats at an equally adjusted empty body or side weight, respectively. Goats tended to have 0·02 ± 0·04 kg more muscle and 0·06 ± 0·05 kg more bone than sheep in carcass side. The subcutaneous fat was poorly developed in both species. The intermuscular fat was more developed, and cavity fat (kidney + thoracic and pelvic cavity fat) less developed, in sheep than in goats. It is possible that the unfavourable fat distribution in goats may affect cookability and eating quality of their meat.