The Effects of Early Castration on Slaughter and Carcass Characteristics of Norduz Male Kids

Abstract

This study examined the effects of early castration on slaughter and carcass characteristics of Norduz goat male kids. Animal material consisted of 25 male kids divided into two groups-an early castrated group (n = 13) and a control group (n = 12). All animals were weaned at 3 months and then subjected to an 85 days fattening period. Kids were fed with a ration of concentrate (16.6% crude protein and 10.6 MJ kg-1 DM ME) ad libitum +200 g sainfoin per kid twice daily. At the end of the fattening period, eight kids from each group were slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics. Significant differences (p<0.01) were found in the slaughter weights of castrated (24.84±0.465 kg) and intact (30.41±1.061 kg) kids. Cold carcass weights of castrated (9.40±0.230 kg) and intact (11.53±0.544 kg) kids also varied significantly (p<0.05). Muscle, bone, subcutaneous fat and intermuscular fat percentages in the chop region for intact and castrated groups were, respectively, 43.15±0.822 and 41.48±0.579%; 24.60± l .026 and 26.84±0.750%; 7.66±0.711 and 10.21±0.615%; 7.48±0.506 and 7.25±0.693%. It was concluded that early castration had no significant on the carcass characteristics of Norduz male kids. © Medwell Journals, 2010.