Estimation of carcase composition of goat kids from joint dissection and conformation measurements

• Main Authors: Virgínia A. C. Santos, António M. Silvestre, Jorge M. T. Azevedo, Severiano R. Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-10-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Animal Science
• Subjects: tissue composition; correlations; local breeds; light carcases
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2017.1321472
• ISSN: 1594-4077; 1828-051X

The aim of this study was to develop equations to estimate percentages and carcase tissue weights of suckling goat kids by using cold carcase weight (CCW), carcase conformation measurements and joints tissue as independent variables. Carcases dissection data from 55 goat kids were used for regression analysis. Leg and shoulder muscle weight showed the highest positive correlations with carcase muscle weight (r = .98). Shoulder tissue weight showed the highest correlation with carcase bone weight (r = .97), carcase subcutaneous fat weight (r = .95) and carcase intermuscular fat weight (r = .95). Also, shoulder tissue percentage showed the highest correlation with carcase muscle percentage (r = .93) and carcase subcutaneous fat percentage (r = .90). CCW explained 95.9% of muscle weight carcase variability. The percentage of the variation explained in other tissues (bone, subcutaneous and intermuscular fat) was lower, but not negligible (89.6%, 60.7% and 48.7%, respectively). Chest circumference and carcase compactness presented the highest correlation with weight of carcase tissues, especially with muscle weight (r = .93), bone weight (r = .93 and .89, respectively), subcutaneous fat (r = .71 and .79) and intermuscular fat weight (r = .68 and .67). The results of this study support the conclusion that the shoulder tissue composition allows accurate estimation of the carcase composition. Also, CCW, chest circumference and carcase compactness measurements were good predictors of the weight of carcase tissues in goat kids, with the advantage to be non-destructive and easy to obtain.