Slaughter characteristics and morphological features of carcasses of male goats of different breeds in the Pavlodar region

Abstract

Background and Aim. The article presents the results of a study on the meat productivity of Mountain Altai downy breed goats raised under year-round pasture conditions in the Pavlodar region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The aim of this study was to investigate meat productivity and carcass quality characteristics of these goats.

Materials and Methods. The experiment employed both in vivo and post-slaughter methods to assess the meat productivity of the goats. These methods included ultrasound scanning, control slaughter and detailed carcass dissection.

Results. The study revealed that Mountain Altai downy breed goats are characterized by high preslaughter weight (49.5 kg), well-developed musculature (muscle eye area of 10.53 cm²) and balanced carcass conformation. Despite a moderate slaughter yield (41.8%), the goat meat exhibits excellent organoleptic properties and is suitable for dietary consumption. These findings align with data from domestic and international research and can be used to refine breeding and technological strategies aimed at enhancing meat productivity in goat farming within Kazakhstan.

Conclusion. The results obtained will help identify potential areas for improving the efficiency of meat goat production in the region and facilitate the development of recommendations for further optimizing goat meat production technologies.