Effect of Different Housing Systems on Fattening Performance, Slaughter and Carcass Characteristics of Akkeci (White Goat) Male Kids

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the fattening performance and the slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkeci (Saanen x Kilis (B-1) crossbred) male kids raised in individual crates (IC) or in group pen housing (GP). In both GP and IC groups, total 13 heads of male kids, whose initial body weights were 21.43 +/- 1.03 kg and 20.61 +/- 0.98 kg, respectively, evaluated for their fattening performances. After 56 days of the fattening period, the final body weights and average daily weight gains of the GP and IC kids were recorded as 30.84 +/- 0.82 kg and 25.84 +/- 0.76 kg; 182.42 +/- 14.77 g and 92.09 +/- 13.76 g, respectively (P < 0.001). Adrenal gland weights of the GP and IC groups were similar as 1.66 +/- 0.25 g and 1.77 +/- 0.22 g, respectively. Although, the carcass conformation of kids was similar between groups, there were significant differences between GP and IC groups for some slaughter and carcass characteristics. In general, although housing kids reared in individual crates provides opportunity to individually feed and monitor a kid, the results obtained from the individual crates in the present study were not satisfactorily from the ethological and production points of view.