Efeitos da idade ao abate dos níveis de proteína e energia sobre as características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça de caprinos e ovinos.

Abstract

The meat market of small ruminants presents a great potential, but little explored due to the difficulties of meeting the demands of the consumer. In order to meet the demands of the consumers, confinement arises in order to intensify production systems. Currently, in the Brazilian semi-arid region, the exploitation of goats and sheep with no defined racial pattern prevails (SPRD) and to obtain carcasses with good characteristics, the crossing of these with pure animals is essential. The knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the carcass that can vary according to factors intrinsic to the animal itself (genotype, sex, weight and age at slaughter) and/or extrinsic (feeding, management, type of fasting) is fundamental. Therefore, a study on the influence of age at slaughter associated with dietary protein and energy levels on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of carcasses of small ruminants in feedlot is important for the development of caprinovinoculture in the Brazilian semiarid region.