Effect of feeding system on growth and carcass traits of Osmanabadi kids

Eighteen weaner Osmanbadi kids divided into three equal groups were reared under three system of feeding management for a period of 6 months at Goat Unit of the University. One group was allowed to graze for 8 hrs daily and housed thereafter (T₀). Kids of second group were confined to a stall and fed with 300 g home-made concentrate mixture, green Hybrid napier and dry sorghum straw ad lib. (T₁) while third group was subjected to 4 hrs of grazing in the morning and then stall fed on 150 g concentrate along with similar green and dry roughage, free choice (T₂). The animals were slaughtered at 9 months age. Final body weights and daily weight gain were superior in T₂ than other groups. The values of PSW, ELW and corresponding dressing percentage were also superior in T₂. Studies on organoleptic evaluation of meat revealed that meat from kids reared under T₂ was significantly superior in terms of juiciness, tenderness, freeness from fats and overall acceptability by semi-trained judges as compared to meat from the kids reared under other two system. It was concluded that partial confinement of goats with browsing followed by stall feeding on available greens along with locally prepared concentrate mixtures proved beneficial in achieving desirable finishing weight and carcass quality in goats.