Effects of Dietary Energy Level on Growth and Meat Quality of Korean Black Goats

This study was conducted to investigate the optimal energy level at growing Korean black goat from April 20 to November 6, 2006. Forty male Korean black goat were divided into four treatments and were fed with concentrate feed containing ME 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 and 3.0 Mcal/kg with CP 15% and rice straw. Average daily gains of were 59.8, 65.4, 73.2 and 77.2 g/day in groups fed with ME 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 and 3.0 Mcal/kg diet, respectively. There was a tendency to increase ADG as the ME level of concentrate feed grew. Dressing percentage were 49.73, 48.64, 50.19 and 51.36% in each group, and were increased as the ME level grew. Meat percentage ranged between 53.1 and 55.3%, and were almost constant. Ranges of crude fat contents and water holding capacity were and 57.9~59.0%, which were increased as the ME level grew. On the other hand, shear force were between 2.8 and 3.1 kg/cm2, which were decreased as the ME level grew. These results suggest that the optimal energy level at growing goat's concentrate is ME 3.0 Mcal/kg.