Effect of feed restriction on compensatory growth response of young male goats

Forty eight 8-month-old male goats were divided into three groups. In each group, eight goats were feed-restricted for 45, 60 or 75 days, and eight goats served as the control. Restricted groups were fed with a maintenance ration, and the control goats were fed with a ration supporting 50 g of daily weight gain. At the end of restriction period, the restricted goats were offered the same ration as the control goats. When the average weight of the 75-day restricted goats approached that of the control, the goats were slaughtered. The carcass, several organs, carcass cuts and dissectible (trimmed) fat were weighed, and the chemical composition of the meat was determined. Feed restriction decreased the proportion in live weight of the dissectible fat, internal fat, liver and testis weight, meat dry matter and fat content, but the proportion of intestinal and splenic weights, and meat protein content were increased. Re-alimentation after 75 days of restriction was associated with a greater daily gain and less internal fat. Other measurements were not different from the control. Data showed that 8-month-old native kids are capable of considerable compensatory growth after 75 days of feed restriction without any deleterious effect on carcass composition.