Effect of concentrate supplementation on growth, nutrient availability, carcass traits and meat quality in barbari kids reared under semi-intensive and intensive systems

Eighteen post-weaned male Barbari kids (10.68±1.63 kg BW) were divided into three equal groups viz. T₁, T₂ and T₃ to study the effects of supplementation of concentrate mixture under a semi-intensive as well as intensive system of management. The kids under T₁ and T₂ were allowed 5–6 h of grazing daily. Additionally, the kids were supplemented with either barley grain alone (T₁, control) or a concentrate mixture (CP 18.87%, TDN 70.33%) both at 2% of BW (T₂). The kids under T₃, reared undertheintensive system, were fed with the same concentrate mixture as of T₂ (at 2% of BW) along with gram straw and green fodder provided ad libitum. The ADG of the kids was similar (P>0.05) among the three groups. The TDN intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T₂ and T₃ than T₁. Five kids from each group were sacrificed at 10 months of age. However, the highest (P<0.05) DCP intake was recorded in kids under the T₂ group. The hot carcass weight was marginally higher in T₂ (10.34 kg) and T₃ (10.48 kg) than T₁ (9.24 kg). Similarly, the dressing percentage tended to increase in T₂ (49.12%) than T₁ (46.10%); however, the difference was non-significant. The kids supplemented with concentrate mixture showed significantly (P<0.05) higher for equarter percentage (27.93% in T₂, 27.18% in T₃) than the control T₁ (25.61%). Kids under T₂ had significantly (P<0.05) higher separated lean (71.65%) than T₃ (66.38%), but T₃ deposited more fat in the muscles. However, no differences were observed in the chemical composition of longissimus dorsi muscle among various dietary treatment groups. It is concluded that supplementation of concentrate mixture at 2% of the BW of finisher Barbari kids reared under semiintensive or intensive system of management resulted in increased intake of nutrients which, in turn, resulted in higher growth and meat production.