SMALL RUMINANT PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS PARAMETERS WHEN FINISHED ON PASTURE WITH AND WITHOUT WHOLE COTTONSEED SUPPLEMENTATION

摘要

The meat goat industry is growing rapidly in the U.S., particularly on small farms. Weight gain and carcass parameters were determined for traditional lambs (Suffolk, SX), hair sheep lambs (Katahdin, KA), and Boer x Kiko meat goats (GX) finished on amixed pasture of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.), with and without whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) supplementation. Overall as the season progressed, BW and ADG weregreater (P < 0.001) for supplemented (SUP) than unsupplemented (UNSUP) animals and followed a trend of SX > KA > GX. The ribeye area:carcass mass ratio was greatest (P < 0.01) for KA lambs (3.9) compared to SX lambs and GX kids, which were similar (mean3.3). There was a breed effect (P < 0.001) on backfat thickness and lean score, but these two parameters were not influenced by supplementation. Carcass wt, dressing percentage, leg score, and conformation score was higher for SUP compared to UNSUP animals and followed a trend of SX > KA > GX. Small ruminants finished on pasture produced desirable finished BW and carcasses for the Halal ethnic market.