Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the developmental trends and the allometric growth values of various body parts and fat depots of the most prevailing indigenous Saudi goat. Thirty male Ardhi kids were serially slaughtered at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 kg live weight. As the kids grew, the bones of hind limb grew at slower rates than the bones of the forelimb and within each limb, the cannon bone grew relatively at a slower rate than the upper skeletal bones. The allometric coefficients for the growth of hot and cold carcass, liver, stomach compartments and lean relative to empty body weight were isogonic (b = 1.00), whereas coefficients of all internal fat depots, intermuscular and subcutaneous fat weights were heterogonic with the high growth impetus of b values greater than 1.00 (p<0.01). The developmental rates of the intestines and separated bones from cold carcass side were heterogonic with medium growth impetus. These results, showed that the highest growth coefficients were obtained for omental and perirenal fat indicating the late maturing characteristics of these depots, followed in a decreasing order by mesenteric and intermuscular fat, channel fat and finally subcutaneous and pericardial fat, which were the earliest developing depots.

Keywords:

Allometric growth, Ardhi kids, carcass partitioning, fat depots,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.