EFFECTS OF ENDOSULFAN AND AMITRAZ ON FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE, CARCASS YIELD AND MEAT QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF NUBIAN GOATS

The pesticides endosulfan and amitraz were fed to 2 groups of Nubian g oats (3 goats/group) at 5 mg/kg/d for 36 d to assess their effects on feedlot performance, carcass yield and meat quality. Growth rates, wei ght gains and feed conversion efficiencies were depressed insignifican tly. The endosulfan-dosed group had significantly lower dressing-out p ercentage and both groups had significant depletions of omental and me senteric fats. Significant reductions were also seen on body and cavit y fats, the latter being severely reduced suggesting more mobilization of cavity fat than body fat. The fat-free body was homogenous with va riations in the muscle/bone ratio reflected on carcass cuts. Meat qual ity was unaffected. Fat was the only chemical component of endosulfan- dosed total lean significantly reduced. In all parameters the effects of endosulfan were more pronounced than those of amitraz.