Characteristics of carcass and meat of feedlot Boer x Saanen kids fed diets with ground corn replaced by soybean hulls

The objective of this trial was to evaluate carcass characteristics, cuts yield, tissues proportion, and chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus dorsi of feedlot kids fed diets, in which soybean hulls (SH) replaced ground corn grain (GCG). Fifteen Boer x Saanen male kids were assigned to a completely randomized design (five animals per treatment) and slaughtered at 33.82 +/- 4.40 kg of body weight. Diets were composed by star grass hay (Cynodon spp), soybean meal, GCG and/or SH, and minerals. Ground corn grain was replaced by SH in the diet as follows: 0% SH (GCG), 50% (SH50) and 1000/o (SH100). Carcass characteristics were not affected by the increasing levels of SH in the diet. However, yield of retail cuts front the loin and neck differed across treatments. Percentage of meat from the Longissimus dorsi muscle was not affected by increasing SH in the diet but kids fed GCG diet showed greater proportion of fat and lower of bone compared to SH50 and SH100 treatments. The chemical composition and the fatty acid profile of the Longissimus dorsi muscle were similar among treatments although its cholesterol content was greater when SH was included in the diet. Soybean hulls can replace GCG in the diet because no significant changes were observed in the characteristics of carcass and meat.