GROWTH, CARCASS AND MEAT PERFORMANCE IN GOAT AND SHEEP BREEDS AND THEIR
CROSSES

GROWTH, CARCASS AND MEAT PERFORMANCE IN GOAT AND SHEEP BREEDS AND THEIR
CROSSES

he growth performance, carcass and meat properties are the
driving factors for efficiency and overall viability of goat and sheep meat
production systems. These performance factors are much dependent on
genotype, although the overall productive capacity will be influenced by
other factors such as nutrition, management, health and other animal
related factors as age, slaughter weight and sex. Goats and sheep breeds
are diverse and populated all around the worlds’ agro ecological regions
culminating in distinctive performances. Some agro ecological regions
usually use both pure breeds and assorted crossbred goats and sheep
that include characteristics from more than one breed, which might be
locally available or exotic breeds. Breed differences in performance
characteristics proffer contingency to improved efficiency of goat and
sheep meat production as a consequence of growth, carcass and meat
performance. Different production systems have taken advantage of
various goats and sheep breeds and their crosses for meat production
and have designed their management specifically to maximize production
on targeted breeds. Pure breeding and crossbreeding have been the most
used mode of production to promote growth performance, carcass and
meat parameters to serve specific commercial meat market expectations
and consumer appeal. Straight breeding has its own share of benefits and
shortcomings, on the other hand goat and sheep breed diversity and
genetic distance have acted as valuable ingredient which has been
exploited in crossbreeding systems in improving growth performance carcass and meat parameters. Different forms of systematic crossing
strategy to improve growth performance, carcass and meat production
have been designed based on specialized terminal sires breeds to
complement performance characteristics of known maternal breeds lines.
In this case, appropriate choice of breed to attain optimal growth, carcass
and meat parameters as expected by specific markets and meat products
acceptable to consumers becomes critical. Unlike pure breeding
accomplishment of breeds and their crosses utilization is dependent on
their genetic distance among them, as well as breed complementarity,
individual, maternal and paternal heterosis that make the proper choice
of breeds employed in a crossing system of great importance. Therefore,
it is recommendable for goat and sheep producers to acquaint
themselves with the production potential of available goat and sheep
genetic resources in order to get maximum meat production utility. The
present review gives an insight on the performance of goat and sheep
breeds and their crosses in terms of growth, carcass and meat
production.

Scientific Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences

2020