The effect of dietary energy content on quality characteristics of Boer goat meat

The palatability and chemical composition of Longissimus lumborum muscles from 24 Boer goat castrates (eight goats per treatment), finished on diets varying in energy content (9.7, 10.2 and 10.6 MJ ME/kg feed), were evaluated by a trained sensory panel on a line scale ranging from low to high intensity for aroma, flavour and texture attributes. Physical measurements as well as proximate analysis were performed for each sample. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between the dietary treatments for any of the attributes analysed. Lamb flavour and aroma were the most prominent attributes, while only low levels of goat-like flavours were detected. Juiciness and tenderness had a strong correlation (r = 0.864) and were rated to be moderate. The findings suggest that energy density of feedlot diets can be varied to still produce chevon with uniform meat quality characteristics.