Carcass tissue composition of autochthonous goats of the semi-arid zone of north-western Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of breed and age on carcass composition of Nigerian goats. Mean values of lean, bone, fat and lean: Bone ratios were 64.64, 31.95, 3.42 % and 2.05, respectively. Sokoto Red goats had more lean, less bone and higher lean: bone ratio than Sahel goats (P<0.05). Mature goats had significantly less bone and higher lean: bone ratio. There was significant breed x age interaction in carcass lean, carcass, bone and lean: bone ratio, such that the superiority of Sokoto Red in percent lean and lean: bone ratio and the higher percent bone of the Sahel hold true only among mature goats. Carcass fat was not influenced by breed or age of goats.