PSX-24 Effects of dietary protein level and gastrointestinal nematode parasite infection on carcass and non-carcass yield and meat composition of goats

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate carcass and non carcass yield of parasite challenged goats, parasitized (INF) or non parasitized (NIF) with gastrointestinal nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus. Goats were fed either high protein (HP) diet containing 24% CP or low protein (LP) diet containing 20% CP. Sixteen growing, intact male meat goats were divided into two main groups of INF and NIF goats and were further divided into two groups of four goats and fed either a high (24% CP) or low (20% CP) containing diet. At the end of the study, empty (fasted) body weights were recorded after an overnight fast and animals transported to a commercial abattoir, and harvested. The weights of the hot carcass, blood and non-carcass pool, which included head, hide and visceral organs (intestine, lung, liver, kidney and spleen), and blood were recorded. Carcass yield was evaluated as dressing percentage (hot carcass weight/empty body weight). There was no difference (P > 0.05) in carcass yield (%), (HP diet=53.77 and LP diet=54.70; INF=53.85 and NIF=54.62); blood (gm) (HP diet=1029.52 and LP diet=1146.47) and INF = 1142.45 and NIF = 1032.54), head and hide (gm) (HP diet = 5645.32 and LP diet = 970.54; INF = 6221.32 and NIF = 5394.54); visceral organs (gm) (HP diet = 4151.66 and LP diet = 4740.92; INF = 4728.35 and NIF = 4164.23). The results of this study showed that supplementation of high dietary protein level above animals need may not be beneficial in improving the variables monitored against Haemonchosis.