Fat Deposition and Distribution in Autochthonous Goats of the Semi-Arid Zone of North-Western Nigeria

Little information is available, on potentials of goats as a major source of highly qualitative, yet safe, animal protein in semi-arid zone of North-western Nigeria, despite the abundance of the animals in the region. For this, an experiment was conducted with the aim of examining the effects of breed and age at slaughter on fat deposition and distribution in autochthonous goats of the area. Different fat depots in 32 intact bucks, representing eight replicates of two breeds (Sokoto Red and Sahel) and two age classes (Young and Mature) were quantified individually and summed, and their proportions in relation to total body fats (for the individual depots) and the empty slaughter weights (for the total body fats) of the animals were computed and compared for the effects of breed and age. Only about 1.3% of the empty slaughter weight of the goats was fat, with more (55.60%) stored in internal depots and 44.40% in the carcass. Subcutaneous and intermuscular depots, which also constituted the carcass depots, occupied 20.3 and 24.1; while the internal depots, which were in and/or around the omentum, the kidneys and the cod constituted 27.3, 16.1 and 12.2% of the total fat respectively. Age affected total fat as a proportion of empty slaughter weight (P < 0.05), with mature rating higher (1.4%) than young goats, which had only 1.0% of their empty slaughter weight as fat. Age did not affect the proportion of any fat depot (P > 0.05); while breed affected (P < 0.05) only intermuscular and cod fats as proportions of total body fat. Sokoto Red had higher proportion of intermuscular, and Sahel cod, fats as proportions of total fats.