Influence of animal gender and production system on the carcass characteristics of goats of the Blanca Serrana Andaluza breed

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender and production system on the carcass characteristics of Blanca Serrana Andaluza goats. Thirty-one animals were used, 12 males and 19 females, distributed in intensive (15 animals) and extensive (16 animals) production systems. No difference was observed in performance, carcass weight and body score between the gender or production system but the hot and cold carcass yields were greater for the animals finished in a feedlot. The carcass measurements did not differ, except for internal carcass length, which was longer for the animals under the intensive system. The percentage of non-constituent carcass components showed little variation for gender or the different rearing systems studied. The greatest proportions of perirenal fat were found in females and in the animals produced in feedlot. Little variation was observed for the shoulder, neck and breasts cuts, but the percentage of leg was greater in the animals produced in pasture. The extensive system, commonly used by Blanca Serrana Andaluza breeders in Spain, resulted in carcasses with characteristics similar to the animals reared in feedlot, and because of the substantial reduction in feeding costs obtained with animals exclusively on pasture, it is assumed to be the most economically viable system.