Carcass comparison

A more detailed article about the carcass comparison study has been posted to the web at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/programs/GoatTest/2011/11carcassevaluation.html. The article includes images of the rib eye of each goat.

The pen-fed goats had
more kidney and heart fat.

In addition to comparing the raw data, the article indicates whether the differences between the two groups of goats were statistically significant.  For example, the raw data shows that the pen-fed goats had a higher percentage of lean in their carcasses, but according to statistical analysis, the difference was not significant.  In other words, percent lean did not vary between the two groups of goats.

Differences in cold carcass weight, body wall thickness, percent kidney and heart fat, percent fat, and  yield were significant, whereas differences in live weight, hot carcass weight, rib eye area, percent bone, and percent lean were not.

While the results of this small study showed that pen-feeding increased the yield of boneless meat, the economics of pen-feeding is affected by many factors and will vary by operation.  Next year, we hope to be able to evaluate the economics of pen-feeding, as well as continue to evaluate the carcass characteristics between the two types of meat goats.

Thanks to all the consigners who provided goats for the carcass comparison study.

Read detailed article

Preliminary carcass data

Nine goats from the pasture test and nine goats from the pen were harvested on September 29 by Country Foods, a custom exempt slaughterhouse in Waynesboro, PA.  The carcasses were deboned on October 5.

Carcass measurements were determined by Jeff Semler, David Gordon, Mary Beth Bennett, and Susan Schoenian. A sample of the longissimus dorsi muscle was collected from each carcass. The samples will be sent to the meat lab at The Ohio State University for analysis.

Goat with largest rib eye area (2.15 sq. in)

The goats in the feed pen produced superior carcasses as compared to the goats in the pasture test. While their carcasses contained more kidney and heart fat (KH) and overall fat, they were heavier muscled and yielded a higher percentage of boneless meat. According to the meat cutter, the quality of the meat from the pen-fed goats was superior (firmer) to the meat from the goats in the pasture group.

In both groups, the highest-yielding goat was the Myotonic consigned by Whitmore Farm (MD). The Myotonic from the pasture test had a boneless meat yield of 24.8 percent, whereas the Myotonic from the pen had a boneless meat yield of almost 30 percent (29.8). The Myotonic breed is known for having a superior meat-to-bone ratio. While the Myotonic carcasses were shorter, they stood out for their conformation, especially in the leg.

Hindsaddle from highest-yielding goat

Another goat with a superior carcass was the biggest goat (86 lbs.) from both groups, a Spanish buck consigned by Karen Cooper (KY). This buck had a rib eye area of 2.10 square inches and a boneless meat yield of 28.8 percent.  Randy and Lolli Allen (TN) had two Kiko bucks from the pen that excelled in both rib eye area and boneless meat yield. One of the Allen goats had the largest rib eye (2.15 square inches). The Cooper and Allen goats were also the higher-yielding goats in the pasture group.

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