The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of ground total ration, pelleted total ration or extruded total ration intake on carcasses characteristics and meat quality of the Saanen kids slaughtered at 30, 45 and 60 days of age, according to a completely randomized design. The extrusion and pelleting process did not affect the dressing percentage values, loin eye area, loin and neck weight and the physico-chemical characteristics of the meat. Kids fed with pelleted total ration, showed higher live weight, carcass, shoulder, ribs and leg weight. In relation the effect of age, animals at 60 days, showed meat with greater protein value and lower final pH, then, we conclude that 60 days is the best age to kids slaughetered, related with the ages evaluated.
goats; meat goat; commercial cuts; ration processing
