Influence of the Use of Milk Replacers on Carcass Characteristics of Suckling Kids from Eight Spanish Goat Breeds

Abstract

Since goat milk has a higher value than kid meat in Europe, some farmers rear kids with milk replacers, although some studies have stated that kids raised on natural milk yield higher-quality carcasses. Our previous studies showed some interactions between breed and rearing system on carcass and meat quality. This study evaluated the influence of the use of milk replacers on several carcass characteristics of suckling kids from eight Spanish goat breeds (Florida, Cabra del Guadarrama, Majorera, Palmera, Payoya, Retinta, Tinerfeña, and Verata). A total of 246 kids fed milk replacer (MR) or natural milk (NM) were evaluated. Carcass, head, viscera, and kidney fat weights, as well as several carcass measurements (round perimeter, forelimb width, carcass length, forelimb length, and carcass compactness index), were registered. Forelimbs were dissected to study tissue composition. For all studied variables, interactions were found between rearing system and breed. In general, the MR rearing system increased the head and visceral weights, as well as the length measurements and muscle percentages. Conversely, the NM rearing system increased carcass compactness and resulted in higher fat contents, independent of the deposit. The choice of one or another rearing system should be made according to the needs of the target market.

Polymorphism of IGFBP7 gene (g.72351183 A>C) and its association with mineral content and cholesterol of Indonesian lamb meat

“…The Fe content in lamb meat in the study ranged from 1.80 to 1.98 mg/100 g. While for Zn, K, and Se content were 2.07 -2.72 mg/100 g, 243.42 -299.33 mg/100 g, and 0.58 -0.63 mg/100 g, respectively. The mineral content of lamb meat in the study was similar for Fe and Zn compared to Merino male lamb [21] and Australian lamb [22,23]. The results of the association analysis between IGFBP7 gene and cholesterol level are shown in Table 4.…”

A New Insight on Carcass and Meat Quality in Ruminants

“…Since goat milk has a higher value than kid meat in Europe, some farmers rear kids with milk replacers, although some studies have stated that kids raised on natural milk yield higher-quality carcasses. With the aim of enlightening this topic, Ripoll, Alcalde, Argüello, Córdoba, and Panea [ 16 ] evaluated the influence of the use of milk replacers on several carcass characteristics of suckling kids from eight Spanish goat breeds. For all studied variables, interactions were found between the rearing system and the breed.…”

“…This Special Issue of Animals , entitled “Carcass and Meat Quality in Ruminants”, aims to compile the recent literature with a focus on carcass development, quality, and valorization in addition to meat quality. It includes ten original research articles about various types of meat from ruminant species (bovine [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], ovine [ 12 , 13 , 14 ], and caprine [ 15 , 16 ]) as well as one review article about strategies to reduce E. Coli contamination [ 17 ]. These articles, while their aims are different, provide a deep insight on the current topics of carcass and meat science of ruminants.…”