Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar Via: Jaipur-304501
Eighteen male kids of Marwari goats were maintained on suckling, creep ration plus browsing for four hours daily upto 3 months age and on browsing for 8 h plus 200 g/h/d concentrate mixture from 3 months to slaughter age of 6, 7½ and 9 months. The liveweights at birth, 3 months and 6 months age did not differ significantly. The slaughter weights were found to be 24.3±1.38, 28.3±1.81 and 31.9±0.95 kg, the dressing percentage to be 44.4±1.17, 44.2±0.70 and 47.4±0.53 on liveweight basis, the lean percentage in the dressed carcass to be 74.1±1.12, 78.0±0.64 and 80.3±0.83 and the bone percentage to be 25.9±1.12, 22.0±0.64 and 19.6±0.83 respectively at 6, 7½ and 9 months age. The age at slaughter significantly affected the liveweights, liveweight gains, dressing percentage both on liveweight as well as on empty liveweight basis and the lean, bone and fat percentage in the dressed carcass. The edible and nonedible offals were also significantly affected by the age.
The quantity and quality of chevon in all respects was found to be better in the kids slaughtered at 9 months age as compared to those slaughtered at 6 and 7½ months age.
