Efeito da restrição alimentar e condição sexual no rendimento e qualidade da carne caprina

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of feed restriction on carcass and meat characteristics in Saanen goats. 54 goats, 18 females, 18 males and 18 castrated males with an average initial body weight of 15 ± 0.1 kg , subjected to three dietary levels (0 % , 25 % and 50 % of food restriction) were used. The experiment ended when the 0% animals reached 30 kg body weight. During the experimental period the animals were weighed fortnightly. The biometric measurements of body condition and ribeye area in ultrasound occurred at the beginning and at the end of the experiment in order to follow the development (in vivo). After killing, the animals were kept in cold storage for 24 hours at 6° C. After this period, the morphometric measures, the biological yield and the carcass commercial cuts were performed. In longissimus dorsi muscle, meat characteristics (pH, color, cooking loss, shear force) and its chemical composition were evaluated. For statistical analysis, the randomized block design in a 3x3 factorial arrangement was used, using the SAS ® statistical software, version 9.2. The feed restriction affected the daily weight gain, the weight of hot and cold carcass and, consequently, the weight of commercial cuts. The males showed higher absolute weight of retail cuts and higher proportion of neck, rib 1-5 th and loin than the females and castrated. The averages of color, pH, cooking loss and shear strength were not influenced by food restriction. Food restriction resulted in a decrease of biometric and morphometric measurements, however, the biological and the cuts yield were not affected. The males reached better results and higher proportion of loin, ribs, leg and shoulder. The meat quality was not affected by the restriction and sexual condition, with differences only in terms of chemical composition.