Performance, Linear Body Measurements and Carcass Characteristics of WAD Goats Fed Diets Supplemented with Slaughterhouse By-Products.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of slaughter house by-product-based diets on feed utilization, body measurements and quantitative carcass characteristics of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Rations were formulated such that 0%(A), 35%(B), 70%(C) and 100%{D) of soybean meal were replaced weight for weight with the slaughter house by-product, in a concentrate diet. Sixteen WAD goats were allocated to the various dietary traetments in a completely randomized design for 126 days and were slaughted for carcass analysis, Result shows that animals on diet B had the least DM intake per unit metabolic size, their feed conversion ratio (i.e weight gained/dr. matter intake) was the best i.e. one kg of feed produced 0.2kg of body The data recorded for nitrogen retention in this study ranged from 6.60 to 8.83g/day. The mean apparent metabolizable energ (ME) consumed by animal on treatments A to D was 0.181, 0.171, 0.175 and 0.189Mcal/day 071 respectively. Animals on ration B recorded 48.4 cm and 39.1cm for body length and height ai withers respectively. Dressing percent was highest in goats on diet B(73.6%). Least value of cooking loss(29.73%) was observed in semitendernosus muscle of animals on diet B, while those on diet D(36.43%) had the highest result. There were significant dietary effect (P<0.05) on carcass composition of goats. Ration D produced carcass with the highest weight of lean muscles(4655.0g), but the least proportion of fat(174.0g) and the highest proportion of bones(1904.0g). It could be deduced  that ration D supported the development of animals with tall and lean body comformation while slaughter result revealed that animals on ration B had the best dressing%.