Live and Carcass Characteristics of Four Strains of Male and Female Geese Slaughtered at 173, 180, and 194 Days of Age

Three hundred and fifty-five geese from four strains (Chinese, Hungarian, Pilgrim, and Synthetic) were slaughtered at 173, 180, and 194 days of age. One hundred and twenty of the eviscerated carcasses (5 males and 5 females from each strain and slaughter group) were divided into legs, breast, back, and wings. The proximate composition was determined on 72 carcasses (3 males and 3 females from each strain and slaughter group). At slaughter the Pilgrim and Synthetic strains were the heaviest and the Hungarian strain the lightest. The males were heavier than female geese. Age at slaughter (21-day difference) did not influence (P>.05) weight at slaughter. Carcass yield was influenced (P<.01) by strain and sex; the Pilgrim strain had the highest yield and the Hungarian and Chinese strains the lowest. Males had a higher yield (P<.01) than females. Abdominal fat as a percentage of carcass weight did not vary significantly (P>.05) among strains, slaughter groups, or sexes. Variation associated with strains and slaughter groups were observed (P<.01) for the percentage of the various cuts. For the two cuts of economic importance (legs and breast) the Chinese and Hungarian strains yielded, respectively, the highest and lowest percentage of legs, whereas for the breast, the Hungarian strain yielded the highest percentage; Chinese and Pilgrim males and Pilgrim and Synthetic females yielded the lowest. Age at slaughter did not influence (P>.05) the chemical composition of the carcass. Carcasses from males contained a higher percentage of water (P<.05), nitrogen (P<.01), and ash (P<.01) but a lower percentage of ether extract (P<.01) than carcasses from females. Carcasses from the Hungarian and Synthetic strains contained the lowest (33.25%) and the highest (35.71%) percentage of ether extract, respectively; the opposite was also observed for the percentage of water.