The Effects of Sex on Yield of Edible and Saleable Carcass Components of Indigenous Matebele Goats of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The slaughter data from 90 local Matebele goats (30=does, 30 intact males, 30 castrated males) managed on range were analysed to determine the influence of sex on edible and saleable components. Edible proportion of live weight was obtained as all body components minus skin, lungs, heart, head, feet and gut fill, while saleable proportion of live weight was defined as all body components except feet and gut fill. According to local criteria, the total edible percentages were 45.99±1.36, 48.04±0.74 and 53.79±1.04 for does, castrated and intact males, respectively. There were significant higher saleable proportions of live weight in intact males than does and castrated males, which were 48.60±1.27, 50.36± 0.72 and 56.42±1.07, for does, castrated and intact males, respectively. Castration did not have any influence on the yield of external non-carcass component as a percentage of empty body weight (EBW) as compared to intact males, however does had lower external non-carcass components as a percentage of EBW than both castrated and intact males. The significantly lower (p<0.05) internal non carcass component as a proportion of EBW  for does compared to castrated and intact males may have influenced a higher dressing percentage.