Body measurements and their correlation between, slaughter weight and hot carcass weight of Sudanese desert goats as affect by feeding regimen and castration

Abstract

The experiment was conducted on desert male goats to evaluate the effect feeding regimen and castration on body measurements and their relationship between carcass measurements, slaughter weight and hot carcass weight. Seventy two (72) male desert goats aged 4-5 months and weighing 12.1 Kg (11.7-12.4 Kg) were used in these experiments. The goats were divided randomly into three groups; each group (24 males) was divided into two sub groups (12 males) in Factorial experimental randomized design. The results revealed that nutrition had significant (p<0.01) effect on all body measurements (body length, belly girth, heart girth, height at wither, width of hips and height at rump), on the other hand castration and interaction of (feeding regimen and castration) had significant (p<0.01) effect on total change in body length and total change in height at wither. Correlation coefficients between slaughter weight and body measurements were significant in all feeding regime except heart girth and belly girth in grazing with supplementation and zero grazing goats respectively were significant. All correlation coefficients between hot carcass weight and body measurements were significant in all feeding regime except the wither height in free grazing goats and wither height and rump height in zero grazing goats were significant