Growth, Fattening Performance, and Carcass Characteristics of Saanen, Turkish Hair × Saanen, and Honamlı × Saanen Crossbred Kids

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the possibilities of obtaining slaughtered kids using indigenous breeds in Saanen flocks, which does not require breeding. The birth weights were 3.22 kg, 3.05 kg, and 3.18 kg for the Saanen, Turkish Hair × Saanen (F1), and Honamlı × Saanen (F1) crossbred kids, respectively. The mean live weight values of the same genotypes at the end of fattening (146th day) were determined as 25.96 kg, 27.11 kg, and 29.57 kg for the male kids, respectively. The cold carcass weights and dressing percentage (%) of the same genotypes were determined to be 10.95 kg, 12.40 kg, and 13.21 kg and 43.59%, 44.43%, and 44.48%, respectively for the male kids. M. Longissimus dorsi (MLD) cross-sectional areas were 9.42 cm2, 9.94 cm2, and 11.44 cm2 for the genotypes among the examined factors, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). It might be thought that the study was important as it was among the first studies on the use of different genotypes as a sire line on the Saanen goats. The study also focused on a rarely tried pattern of commercial crossbreeding and kid production in a time when the Saanen farms do not need to breed kids. This attempt was a new concept for Saanen rearing. © TÜBİTAK