Qualidade da carcaça e da carne de caprinos de diferentes idades da Região das Palmas - Alto Camaquã.

Abstract

The region known as Territory "Alto Camaquã" in the State of Rio Grande do Sul is distinguished by the preservation of a landscape on which an extensive cattle ranching has been consolidated over the years. This activity is reflected in the current context as a high dependence on renewable natural resources. Thus, one could envisage an opportunity for the region to develop an image as a producer of quality meat, linked to production processes of its own, in an original environment and with high ecological value. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize the production system and evaluate the influence of 8-9 and 11-12 months as slaughtering ages on carcass characteristics, as well as the meat of naturalized goats from the region called Territory "Alto Camaquã”, in the county of Bagé, seeking to build the technological bases for the creation of a "quality mark" for goat meat. 34 castrated male goats were used, from which 20 were aged 11-12 months and 14 aged 8-9 months. All animals remained with their mother until one day before slaughtered. pH and carcass traits (marbling, fat condition, color and texture) were measured in the carcass. Next, the Longissimus dorsi was removed for instrumental (water holding capacity, color, shear force) and sensory analysis. There were no differences regarding the subjective characteristics of the carcass between the two lots of slaughtered ages. Animals slaughtered at 8-9 months of age presented meat with higher ultimate pH value, greater staining intensity and lower values of shear force. Concerning sensory evaluation, the meat was characterized by attributes of weak intensity, presenting lower values for the animals slaughtered at 8-9 months of age. In the overall evaluation of the samples, values were higher for goats slaughtered at 8-9 months of age. Despite the influence of age, the meat quality of both ages are suitable for the establishment of a "quality mark" for the meat of naturalized goats from the region Territory "Alto Camaquã".