The effect of plane of nutrition on the growth and development of the East African dwarf goat. Part II. Age changes in the carcass composition of female kids

Abstract

1. The age changes in carcass composition of female kids killed at birth, 9, 16, 25 and 30 lb. are described.2. The organs and tissues of the kids were weighed both wet and oven-dried, allowing the dry-matter percentages at different stages of growth to be calculated. The total dry-matter percentage for day-old kids averaged 26·5%, rising to a maximum of 40·5% at the 25 lb. stage. The greatest increase in dry-matter percentage was between birth and the 9 lb. stage, which was reached at approximately 1 month. This increase in dry matter is chiefly due to a steady rise in the dry-matter content of the muscular and skeletal tissues; from 20·2 to 25·4%, and from 34·3 to 59·6%, respectively, between birth and maturity.3. The various joints of the kid were weighed and recorded separately, and the changes in the proportions of the joints illustrated centripetal growth. At birth, the joints were present in the following proportions: thorax 30%; legs 40%; head 20%; pelvis 10%. As the kid developed, there was a marked increase in the proportion of thorax and pelvis, accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the proportion of the head and foreleg.