Carcass morphology and quality of goat from the region of “Alto Camaquã” slaughtered at different ages.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the carcass morphology and quality of goats slaughtered at 8-9 and 11-12 months of age, which were reared extensively in the region of “Alto Camaquã”, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The carcasses of 37 male castrated goats, including 14 animals slaughtered at 8-9 months of age and 23 at 11-12 months, were evaluated. The following five cuts were obtained from the right half-carcass: foreleg, hind leg, fluctuating ribs plus loin and flank, fixed ribs and chest. These cuts were then dissected for determination of the composition of muscle, bone, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, and other tissues. There was a significant difference in hot carcass yield, commercial cut yield, cooling losses, carcass and leg length, and leg and chest depth between slaughter ages. An interaction between slaughter age and carcass cut was observed for muscle/fat ratio, muscle percentage, total fat, intermuscular and subcutaneous fat, and weight and percentage of other tissues. There was an effect of slaughter age, regardless of cut, on the variables bone, muscle, total cut weight, muscle/bone ratio and bone percentage. Commercial cut yield and hot carcass weight increase with age. However, the tissue composition of animals slaughtered at a younger age is characterized by a better muscle/fat ratio in the different cuts.

Keywords

• composição tecidual
• marca de qualidade
• paleta
• perna