Some factors influencing dressing percentage in goat meat production

This review article looks at the factors affecting dressing percentage in goats. Many factors can affect the dressing  percentage (DP), therefore it is important for goat  producers to understand the concept and factors influencing dressing percentage because it can equate to profitability. In general, goat genotypes that are heavier muscled have a higher dressing percent than goat genotypes that are lighter muscled. Additionally, as the goat fat thickness on the outside of a carcass increases, the dressing percent also increases. Dressing percentage is based on the relationship between the dressed goat carcass weight and the live weight after things like the hide and internal organs have been removed. Goat dressing percentage can be calculated by taking (weight of the carcass / weight of live animal) * 100. This can be determined on a hot carcass weight or a cold carcass weight. There are indication of the potentiality to manipulating some of the factors that influence dressing percentage in goat to the producer’s advantage. Better goat rearing practices can be achieved through nutritional management resulting in improvement of dressing percentage.