Carcass tissue distribution and characteristics of Small East African and Galla goats, and their F-1 crosses to Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian

Pre-slaughter live weights (LW) and carcass characteristics (hot and cold d ressed weights (CDW), total lean (TL). total bone (TB), total fat (TF), and fat components such as intestinal fat, subcutaneous fat, empty gut (EG) an d other offal weights were determined in 60 females, male and castrated goa ts of SEA and Galla and their respective F-1 crosses with Toggenburg and An glo-Nubian of approximately 3 years of age. Breed group, sex and their firs t order interactions were tested for relative influence on some of the carc ass characteristics. Sex of the animal did not significantly affect the car cass chilling shrinkage (%). However, sex significantly (P<0.001) influence d the weights of offal such as head, skin and empty gut as proportions of t he live weight. The shrinkage (%) ranged between 2.87 and 2.66 with male ca rcasses shrinking most followed by castrates and females. Estimates of prop ortions of skin and EG to LW were: 5.45.5.51. 6.32 and 8.07, 5.57 and 7.48 for castrates, females, respectively, and for skin and EG in that order. Sh rinkage ( ro) was higher among Toggenburg crosses (3.3%; 2.9%) and lowest a mong the SEA (2.3%), while Galla and Anglo-Nubian crosses registered interm ediate values (2.62 and 2.66%).