







































Agriculture and Food 

Sciences Research 
ISSN(E) : 2411-6653  
ISSN(P) : 2518-0193 
Vol. 3, No. 1, 45-48, 2016 
http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AESR 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45 

 

Effect of Feeding Regimen on Relationship between Carcass 

Measurements, Slaughter Weight and Hot Carcass Weight 

of Sudanese Desert Goats 

 
M.O.Mudalal1     

I. Bushara2
    

Dafalla M. Mekki3    

ElGazafey Besheer4    

S.A.Babiker5     

1,2,3Department of Animal Production. Faculty of Natural 
Resources and Environmental Studies, University of 
Kordofan El-Obied, Sudan. 
4Faculty of Medicine, University of ELdaein, Sudan. 
5Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, 
Khartoum, Sudan 
( Corresponding Author) 

 
Abstract 

The study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding diets, on growth performance and 

relationship between carcass measurements, slaughter weight and hot carcass weight, of 72 intact male 

desert bucks divided randomly into three groups; each group (24 males), the animals were slaughtered 

according to halal standard procedures. The results obtained indicated that correlation coefficients 

between slaughters weight and carcass measurements were significantly higher (P <0.01) and positive. In 

free grazing group correlation coefficients between hot carcass weight and carcass measurements were 

significantly (P <0.01) and positive. Also the relationship between slaughters weight and carcass 

measurements was significant and positive except internal chest length. In the group that grazing and 

supplemented with diets showed positive and significantly (P <0.01) correlation coefficients between hot 

carcass weight and carcass measurements and between slaughters weight and carcass measurements 

were significant and positive except carcass length. The zero grazing groups obtained non not significant 

correlation coefficients between hot carcass weight and carcass measurements except slaughter weight 

and external chest length.   
 

Keywords: Goat, Carcass measurements, hot carcass and slaughter weights. 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 46 

2. Materials and Methods ............................................................................................................................................................. 46 

3. Results and Discussions ............................................................................................................................................................ 46 

4. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................................................ 47 

References ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 47 

 
 

Citation | M.O.Mudalal; I. Bushara; Dafalla M. Mekki; ElGazafey Besheer; S.A.Babiker (2016). Effect of Feeding Regimen on Relationship between 

Carcass Measurements, Slaughter Weight and Hot Carcass Weight of Sudanese Desert Goats. Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 3(1): 45-48. 

DOI: 10.20448/journal.512/2016.3.1/512.1.45.48          

ISSN(E) : 2411-6653 
ISSN(P) : 2411-6653 

Licensed:  

Contribution/Acknowledgement: 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License  

All authors contributed to the conception and design of the study. 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support. 

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. 
Transparency: The authors confirm that the manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study was reported; that 

no vital features of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned have been 

explained. 
History: Received: 25 May 2016/ Revised: 15 June 2016/ Accepted: 20 June 2016/ Published: 2 July 2016 

Ethical: This study follows all ethical practices during writing.   

Publisher: Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

 

 

 

 

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Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2016, 3(1): 45-48 

 

 

 

 

46 

 

1. Introduction 
The goat population of Sudan is mostly located in smallholder farming areas, and their function is the production 

of meat. The traditional production system is extensive, with grazing on natural grassland with herbs, shrubs and 

forest and with little or no feed supplementation and this is mainly based on natural, unimproved savannahs, which 

lead to poor animal performance [1, 2]. Goats are prominent browsers for herbs [3]. If herbs used in the diets of 

animals could have significant impact on feed intake, meat quality and composition [4-6]. The presence of high 

levels of herbs in feed have been reported to be responsible for decreased feed intake [6, 7] growth rate, feeding 

efficiency and live-weight gain [6, 8]. The Carcass characteristics and meat quality are important criteria for 

consumers when it comes to making purchasing decisions. Carcass classification for conformation and fatness are the 

main parameters for determining the marker price. The linear carcass measurements, included length of carcass, 

depth of chest, length of leg and width of leg [9]. Many authors had showed that nutrition had significant effect on 

slaughter weight, hot carcass weight and fore and hind quarter [10]. Therefore, the producers are encouraged to 

continue producing according to the traditional systems and methods because the products are well accepted to the 

consumers.  The feeding trials are ongoing in order to recommend supplementation strategies for the use of relatively 

expensive concentrates with tropical forage for feeding local goats raised for meat. The aim of the pilot study was to 

evaluate the effect of feeding regimen and castration on relationship between carcass measurements, slaughter 

weight and hot carcass weight.  

 

2. Materials and Methods  
2.1. Study Area 

This study was conducted at El-Obeid Agricultural Research Station, North Kordofan State, Sudan.  

 

2.2. Experimental Animal’s Management 
Seventy two male desert goats weighing 12.1 Kg (aged 4-5 months) were divided randomly into three groups; 

each group content 24 males. Group one (free grazing only) on some dry grasses like Eragrotis turmula, Zornia 

glochiidiata and Cenphrus spp and browse the leaves of Ziziphus spina chritis, Balanite aegyptiaca and Calotropis 

purocera. Group two (grazing + concentrate supplement) and Group three (concentrate supplement only) ad libitum 

fed the experimental diet. The experimental diet given at a rate of 324g/ head/ day. Ingredients and chemical 

composition of experimental diet (Table 1). Live weight and external body measurements of each animal were 

recorded at the start of experiment, then weekly during the experiment, using spring balance. The animals were 

weighed in the morning at weekly interval for 12 weeks. 

 
Table-1. Ingredients % and Chemical Composition of the Experimental Feed Stuffs. 

Components  % Chemical composition % 

Sorghum grains 30 Dry matter (DM %) 98.6 

Wheat bran 38 Organic matter (OM %) 87.7 

Ground nut cake 20 Crude protein (CP %) 22.0 

Ground nut hay 10 Crude fiber (CF %) 25.0 

Sodium chloride 1 Ether extract (EE %) 12.0 

Limestone 1 Nitrogen free extract (NFE %) 31.0 

  Ash (%) 08.0 

  Energy density (ME(MJ/ Kg DM) 12.0 
                 Note: ** Calculate as in MAFF [11]. 
 

2.3. Slaughter Procedure and Data Collection   
 Twelve animals from each group were slaughtered at 90 weeks. The animals were slaughtered according to halal 

standard procedures. The external and internal offals including gut content were weighed. Hot carcass, carcass halves 

were weight; the carcass was split along midline. The left half carcass were done according Owen [12] and cut into 

wholesale cuts, each cut was dissected according to Cuthbertson, et al. [13] into lean, fat, and bone.  

 

2.4. Statistical Analysis 
The data were statistically analyzed according to factorial experimental randomized design as a 3×2 

(management Vs sex). Multiple range tests were used to compare the means using [14].  

 

3. Results and Discussions   
3.1. Effect of Free Grazing on Slaughter Weights and Carcass Characteristics 

There is positive significant correlation between slaughters weight and carcass measurements Table (2). The 

highest correlation coefficients (r =0.73, (p< 0.001) was found between slaughters weight and proximal hind leg 

length and between hot carcass and slaughter weight(r =0.63(p< 0.05). The slaughter weight and distal foreleg length 

exert lowest relationship and between hot carcass weight and internal chest length(r =0.56, (p< 0.05) . This result was 

in agreement with the findings of Jibir, et al. [15] and Alexandre, et al. [1] who reported that the there is positive 

relationship between carcass measurements, slaughter weight and hot carcass weight were significant positive for 

animal depending on natural grazing. 

 

 

 

 

 
 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2016, 3(1): 45-48 

 

 

 

 

47 

 

Table-2. Correlation Coefficients between Slaughter Weights, Hot Carcass Weight and Carcass Measurements (Free Grazing) 

 Slaughter 

Weight 

Carcass 

Length 

Distal 

Foreleg 

Length 

Proximal 

Foreleg 

Length 

Distal 

Hind Leg 

Length 

Proximal 

Hind Leg 

Length 

Internal 

Chest 

Length 

External 

Chest 

Length 

Hot carcass weight 

(Kg) 

0.91*** 0.60* 0.78*** 0.61* 0.64** 0.73*** 0.56* 0.73*** 

Slaughter weight 

(Kg) 

 0.45NS 0.63* 0.68** 0.64* 0.73*** 0.67** 0.68** 

    Note: **** ,** and  * Significant at P<0.001, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively, NS= non significant 
 

3.2. Effect of Free Grazing Plus Supplementation on Slaughter Weights, Hot Carcass Weight and 

Carcass Measurements  
The linear carcass measurements are indices of skeletal development and indirectly help to determine carcass 

conformation. Diet had significant and positive (P > 0.01) effect on relationship exert between slaughters weight and 

carcass measurements except internal chest length Table (3). The significant and highest positive correlation 

coefficients were found between slaughter weight and external chest length(r =0.85, (p< 0.001), between hot carcass 

weight and carcass measurements and between hot carcass weight and slaughter weight(r =0.96, (p<0.001) 

respectively. The values increased (P<0.01) progressively with inclusion of concentrate in the diet. The lowest 

correlation coefficients (r =0.65, (p< 0.01) between slaughter weight and distal foreleg length. and between hot 

carcass weight and distal foreleg (r =0.65, (p< 0.05). Generally the increase in weights of the main carcass cuts was 

related to the carcass weight increase due to availability of energy and protein in diets. Diet and slaughter weight 

may be the main causes of the differences with the results obtained by Owen [12] and Abdullah and Musallam [16]. 

The increase in weights of between hot carcass and slaughter weight with internal chest length was related to be not 

vary significantly. This results is online with studied of Oman, et al. [17] who reported that fed goats produced 

heavier  slaughters weight and carcasses measurements than pasture goats. 

 
Table-3. Correlation Coefficients between Slaughter Weights, Hot Carcass Weight and Carcass Measurements (Grazing + Supplemented 

Group) 

 Slaughter 

Weight 

Carcass 

Length 

Distal Foreleg 

Length 

Proximal Foreleg 

Length 

Internal 

Chest Length 

External 

Chest Length 

Hot carcass weight (Kg) 0.96*** 0.83*** 0.65* 0.80*** 0.55NS 0.85*** 

Slaughter weight (Kg)  0.84*** 0.64* 0.82*** 0.51 NS 0.79** 
 Note: **** ,** and  * Significant at P<0.001, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively, NS= non significant 

 

3.3. Effect of Zero Grazing on Slaughter Weights and Carcass Characteristics 

Feed intake reported in (Table 4) followed the same trend as all correlation coefficients between slaughters 

weight and carcass measurements were significant and positive. Whoever, the highest correlation coefficients (r 

=0.87, (p< 0.001) exert between slaughter weight and external chest length, and between hot carcass weight and 

slaughter weight (r =0.96, (p< 0.001) 

The lowest correlation coefficients (r =0. 58, (p< 0.05) between slaughter weight and distal hind leg length, and 

between hot carcass weight(r =0. 60, (p< 0.05). All correlation coefficients between hot carcass weight and carcass 

measurements were not significantly except slaughter weight and external chest length which agree with Simela, et 

al. [18]. This is consistent with the results reported by Peña, et al. [19] and Marichal, et al. [20] who reported that the 

correlation coefficients between carcass measurements, slaughter weight and hot carcass weight were positive and 

significant. The variation between these results and that obtained by other authors may be due to differences in 

weight at slaughter and mature size of breed used. 

 
Table-4. Correlation coefficients between slaughter weights, hot carcass weight and carcass measurements (zero grazing) 

 Slaughter 

Weight 

Carcass 

Length 

Distal 

Foreleg Length 

Internal 

Chest Length 

External 

Chest Length 

Hot carcass weight (Kg) 0.96*** 0.52 NS 0.50 NS 0.35 NS 0.60* 

Slaughter weight (Kg)  0.54 NS 0.58* 0.76** 0.87*** 
                 Note: ****, ** and * Significant at P<0.001, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively, NS= non significant. 

 

4. Conclusions  
Improvement in the plane of nutrition by supplementation of concentrates to grazing goats can promote faster 

daily live weight gain and increase slaughters weight and carcass measurements then have good and positive 

relationships between them, and thus enable the attainment of acceptable market weight at earlier age. 

 

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