The aim of this research was to study the effects of three different management systems on growth and carcass quality of 61 Murciano-Granadina breed kids and their interaction with sex. In the extensive system, 21 kids were allocated to suckle from their dams on free-range pasture with no additional feedstuff. In the semi-intensive system, 20 kids were suckled from their dams and had access to alfalfa hay and cereal straw (no free-range pasture). In the intensive system, 20 kids were separated from the dams at birth and then fed with milk replacer and alfalfa hay. Animals were slaughtered at 7.00 ± 1.00 kg of average BW. The semi-intensive system and extensive system kids grew faster than intensive system animals (127, 113 and 96 g/d, respectively). Differences in energy intake may explain these differences. Intensive system kids displayed the lowest real dressing percentages, calculated as 100 × (hot carcass weight/empty body weight), due to high development of empty gastrointestinal tract. The long leg and carcass were larger in extensive system kids than in kids from other management systems, presumably due to high physical activity on the free-range pastures. The carcasses and cuts from semi-intensive system and extensive system kids displayed more fat than those of intensive system kids. Males grew faster than females (122 and 103 g/d, respectively). Carcasses in male kids showed a higher content of bones but a lower content of fat than carcasses in female kids. The extensive system is feasible for producing kid meat from a dairy breed.

Objetivou-se avaliar a influência do sexo e do sistema de produção nas características de carcaça de caprinos da raça Blanca Serrana Andaluza. Foram utilizados 31 animais, 12 machos e 19 fêmeas, distribuídos nos sistemas de produção intensivo (15 animais) e extensivo (16 animais). Não foi observada diferença no desempenho, no peso de carcaça e no escore corporal entre os sexos nem entre os sistemas de produção, contudo, os rendimentos de carcaça quente e fria foram maiores nos animais terminados em confinamento. As medidas de carcaça não diferiram entre os sistemas de produção, exceto o comprimento interno, que foi maior nos animais criados no sistema intensivo. O percentual dos não-constituintes da carcaça sofreu pouca variação em relação ao sexo e aos sistemas de criação avaliados. As maiores proporções de gordura perirrenal foram encontradas nas fêmeas e nos animais produzidos em confinamento. Pouca variação foi observada para os cortes paleta, pescoço e serrote, embora o percentual de perna tenha sido maior nos animais produzidos a pasto. O sistema extensivo, predominantemente usado por criadores da raça Blanca Serrana Andaluza na Espanha, permite obter carcaças com características similares às dos animais criados em confinamento e, em virtude da significativa redução dos custos com alimentação, obtida com os animais exclusivamente a pasto, pressupõe-se que esse sistema seja mais economicamente viável.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender and production system on the carcass characteristics of Blanca Serrana Andaluza goats. Thirty-one animals were used, 12 males and 19 females, distributed in intensive (15 animals) and extensive (16 animals) production systems. No difference was observed in performance, carcass weight and body score between the gender or production system but the hot and cold carcass yields were greater for the animals finished in a feedlot. The carcass measurements did not differ, except for internal carcass length, which was longer for the animals under the intensive system. The percentage of non-constituent carcass components showed little variation for gender or the different rearing systems studied. The greatest proportions of perirenal fat were found in females and in the animals produced in feedlot. Little variation was observed for the shoulder, neck and breasts cuts, but the percentage of leg was greater in the animals produced in pasture. The extensive system, commonly used by Blanca Serrana Andaluza breeders in Spain, resulted in carcasses with characteristics similar to the animals reared in feedlot, and because of the substantial reduction in feeding costs obtained with animals exclusively on pasture, it is assumed to be the most economically viable system.