COMPARATIVE FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF SUDANESE DESERT SHEEP AND GOATS

Under similar levels of feeding, desert sheep grew faster and reached slaughter weight of 35 kg in a significantly (P<.001) shorter feeding period than desert goats. Sheep consumed more feed and their gut fill was greater (P<0.0001) than that of goats. Desert goats had heavier (P <0.001) carcass weight, higher killing-out proportion but more chilled shrinkage than desert sheep. Weights of wholesale cuts were similar i n the two species. Carcass dissection revealed greater muscle proporti on in desert goats than in sheep. Bone and fat proportions were signif icantly heavier in desert sheep, but the muscle : bone ratio was great er in desert goats. Except for its slow growth rate, desert goats can yield heavier carcasses which are leaner than desert sheep. Breeding i mprovements of growth and efficiency of production in goats is essenti al for their use in intensive systems of production. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.