Effects of extensive system versus semi-intensive and intensive systems on growth and carcass quality of dairy kids

Abstract

-The aim of this research was to study the effects of three different management systems on growth and carcass quality of 61 Murciano-Granadina breed kids and their interaction with sex. In the extensive system, 21 kids were allocated to suckle from their dams on free-range pasture with no additional feedstuff. In the semi-intensive system, 20 kids were suckled from their dams and had access to alfalfa hay and cereal straw (no free-range pasture). In the intensive system, 20 kids were separated from the dams at birth and then fed with milk replacer and alfalfa hay. Animals were slaughtered at 7.00 ± 1.00 kg of average BW. The semi-intensive system and extensive system kids grew faster than intensive system animals (127, 113 and 96 g/d, respectively). Differences in energy intake may explain these differences. Intensive system kids displayed the lowest real dressing percentages, calculated as 100 × (hot carcass weight/empty body weight), due to high development of empty gastrointestinal tract. The long leg and carcass were larger in extensive system kids than in kids from other management systems, presumably due to high physical activity on the free-range pastures. The carcasses and cuts from semi-intensive system and extensive system kids displayed more fat than those of intensive system kids. Males grew faster than females (122 and 103 g/d, respectively). Carcasses in male kids showed a higher content of bones but a lower content of fat than carcasses in female kids. The extensive system is feasible for producing kid meat from a dairy breed.

Terminal Crossbreeding of Murciano-Granadina Goats to Boer Bucks: Effects on Reproductive Performance of Goats and Growth of Kids in Artificial Rearing

“…On the other hand, the average birth weight obtained in this work in the MG purebred kids (2.36 and 2.14 kg for males and females) is similar to that cited by other authors in this same breed (ranging from 2.03 to 2.8 kg [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ]). Likewise, the average ADG value (113 g/day) of the pure MG kids in artificial rearing falls within the range 96–125 g/d described in other works [ 7 , 8 , 22 , 46 ], but is lower than that cited by [ 6 ] (132 g/d), [ 42 ] (159 g/d) and [ 43 ] (153 g/d). Another interesting aspect of our study is that the ADG (both crossbred and purebred kids) in experiment 1 was higher than in other experiments.…”

Effect of Different Management Systems on Growth and Carcass traits of Post Weaned Male Kachhi Lambs

“…The growth, pre-slaughter weight, carcass yield and weight of internal organs of Kachhi sheep lambs were recorded statistically (P<0.05) higher in group B than in group A. However, grazing and concentrate supplements showed a relatively positive effect on body growth and carcass characteristics, probably grazing may give access to a variety of nutritious grasses ad libitum and grazing on free ranges which in turn improves physiological functions and digestibility which might resulted in improved growth and weight gain under a semi-intensive system (Herrera et al, 2011). Moreover, the outcomes of the present research are in resemblance with the observations (Daskiran et al, 2010;Vargas et al, 2007;Haddad, 2005;Johnson and Mc-Gowan, 1998) who found that fattening performance and carcass characteristics were significantly improved in those animals which were kept under semi-intensive feeding system.…”

Small ruminant production systems in Mexico and their effect on productive sustainability

“…Los nómadas se trasladan de un lugar a otro con sus rebaños, mientras que los trashumantes son aquellos con asentamientos permanentes a los que regresan tras pasar largos periodos de tiempo en otros lugares con sus rebaños en busca de alimento y agua. Los sistemas extensivos de producción de carne de caprino y ovino que se alimentan de forrajes y pasturas aumentan la rentabilidad para los productores, a pesar de que su sostenibilidad y productividad varían debido a los cambios estacionales y climáticos junto con el contenido de nutrientes del forraje, según lo informado por Herrera et al (13), para la producción de carne de cabra.…”