The effects of sex on carcass yield in indigenous goat

The slaughter data from 90 local Matebele goats (30=does, 30 intact males, 30 castrated males) managed on the range were analyzed to determine the influence of sex on edible and saleable components. The edible proportion of live weight was obtained as all body components minus skin, lungs, heart, head, feet and gut fill, while the saleable proportion of live weight was defined as all body components except feet and gut fill. According to local criteria the total edible percentage were 45.99 ±1.36, 48.04 ± 0.74 and 53.79 ± 1.04 for does, castrated males and intact males, respectively. There were significantly 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 males and intact males, respectively. Castration did not have any influence on the yield of the external non carcass component as a percentage of empty body weight (EBW) as compared to intact males, however does have 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 compare to castrated males and intact males may have influenced a higher dressing percentage.