Influence of Feeding Panicum Maximum Supplemented With Wheat Offal on the Carcass Characteristics of West African Dwarf Goat

Ifut, O. J.,* Inyang, U. A., Akpan, U. B. and Ekanem, N. J.

Department Animal Science, University of Uyo, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: (dr.okonifut@gmail.com)

Accepted 18 January 2014

Abstract

Data from 16 West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks aged 6 – 9 months and weighing 6 – 6.5 kg were used to evaluate the effect of feeding Panicum maximum supplemented with wheat offal on their carcass yield.  Four goats were randomly assigned to each of four diets: T₁ – Panicum maximum ad libitum (sole diet), T₂ – Panicum maximum ad libitum + 200 g wheat offal, T₃ - Panicum maximum ad libitum + 225 g wheat offal and T₄ - Panicum maximum ad libitum + 250 g wheat offal. The experiment lasted 90 days. Data were collected on linear measurements, carcass weights and carcass quality, offal yields and wholesale cuts. Animals on diet T₁ recorded the highest linear parameters of 38.00cm, 16.00cm and 20.67cm for body length (BL), heart girth (HG) and neck circumference (NC) respectively. This was significantly (P<0.05) different from the supplemented groups for BL and HG, while neck length (NL) and NC were not significant (P>0.05). The carcass weights of animals on T₁ were significantly different (P<0.05) from those on T₃ with 8.33 kg, 3.07 kg and 36.85 % for slaughter weight, dressed weight and dressing percentage respectively. While there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the dressing percentage between animals on T₁ and T₃, those on T₃ recorded a numerically higher dressing percentage of 40.00 % compared to 36.85 % for those on T₁. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in carcass quality. Goats on T₁ had the highest significant (P<0.05) whole cut and offal sale values except in loin, towel and liver. Supplementation of Panicum maximum with wheat offal at 225 g is recommended for optimum growth of WAD bucks.

Keywords: WAD goat, Panicum maximum, wheat offal, carcass, offal.