Effect of Feeding Concentrate Containing Crude Glycerin and Castration on Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Thai Native x Anglo-Nubian Goats

Abstract

Twenty of Thai Native x Anglo-Nubian crossbred (50:50%) male goats with about 24.75 +1.33 kg of initial body weight at about twelve months old from Small Ruminant and Development Center, Prince of Songkla University were randomly from the flock and used in the study. The goats were allotted into 2x2 factorial arrangement in completely randomized design. The factors were sex (intact and castrated male goats) and type of concentrate diet (control concentrate and concentrate supplemented with 10% of crude glycerin (CG)). Goats were fed Atratum grass (Paspalum atratum) ad libitum and supplemented with concentrate at 2% of their body weight for 90 days. At the end of the study, three goats from each treatment combination were sampled and slaughtered for carcass determination and meat quality study. From the study, goats received diet with 10% of CG supplementation had higher (P<0.01) meat and fat percentages than those received control diet. The darker colour of loin muscle and lighter back fat colour were also found in goat received concentrate diet with CG supplementation. Cooking loss percentage of both loin (Longissimus dorsi) and Biceps femoris muscles from those received diet with CG supplementation had lower than those received the control diet (P<0.05). However, type of concentrate diets did not affect the shear force value of both raw and cooked muscles. Castration improved (P<0.05) carcass fat percentage and crude fat percentage of both muscle types when compared with the intact males. No effect on drip loss and cooking loss percentages of both muscle types (P>0.05) by castration. In conclusion, CG supplementation and castration could be alternative management for fattening goats since carcass and meat quality of goat could be improved.