González-Delfaus, Elsie E.

Profile Picture

Filters

20111
Reset filters

Settings

Citations

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Descriptive analysis of small ruminant meat offers in Puerto Rico and carcass characteristics of locally slaughtered animals
    (2011) González-Delfaus, Elsie E.; Rodríguez-Carías, Abner A.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Randel Folling, Paul F.; Pérez Muñoz, Fernando; Barragán Arce, Mario J.; Latorre Acevedo, José R.; Department of Animal Science; Serrano, Guillermo
    This study was divided into three parts. The first part consisted of a descriptive analysis of the types of small ruminant meat (SRM) offered at retail in the 7 agricultural regions of Puerto Rico. In the second part, data were collected from 57 sheep and 28 goats from different origins, slaughtered in abattoirs in the western region of the island (Lajas, Mayagüez) to develop a data base of the carcass characteristics of small ruminant raised under traditional feeding management. The third part consisted of a feeding trial in which weaned lambs (n=6) and kids (n=6) were randomly assigned within species to one of two feeding regimes: with or without daily commercial concentrate (CC) supplementation at the rate of 0.9% of body weight (BW) on a dry basis to grazing native tropical grasses. Treatment effects on body weight gain, carcass characteristics, and meat quality were evaluated. Information gathered from the descriptive analysis showed that SRM was offered for sale in 79% or more of the supermarkets (SM) surveyed during the four-year study. In all these years, the frequency of SM offering SRM was highest in the agricultural region of San Juan (Metropolitan area municipalities). Most of the SM surveyed offered goat meat only. Respondents were not able to specify if the goat meat they sold was chevon or kid, or if the sheep meat was mutton or lamb. Most of the sellers described their level of offer as average and stated that demand was higher during certain holidays due to ethnic preferences. The data base on carcass characteristics of SR slaughtered commercially showed a highly variable dressing percentages ranging from 37 to 46%, and 32 to 38% for sheep and goat respectively, both species having similar (p>0.05) average values. No differences were observed in dressing percentages between sexes. Supplementation with CC increased (p<0.05) total and daily BW gain in lambs by 2580 and 40g respectively when compared to the non-supplemented controls. In kid-goats, BW gains with supplementation were numerically, but not significantly greater (p>0.05) than without supplementation. Dressing percentage, and fore and hind trunk percentages did not vary (p>0.05) between treatments for either species. There were no differences (p>0.05) in pH, moisture, crude protein, and fat percentages of longissimus muscle between treatments in either species. This research revealed that SRM is a well consumed product and that its production has the potential to become an economically viable livestock enterprise. However, it is necessary to develop a local grading system to standardize the meat and improve its quality. Similarly, genetic selection of animals as well as investigation on alternative less-expensive feed resources for finishing meat-type animals are necessary to improve quantity and quality of meat from local SR.