Carcass characteristics of Neuque ´n Criollo kids in Patagonia region, Argentina M. Zimerman * , E. Domingo, M.R. Lanari Instituto Nacional de Tecnologı ´a Agropecuaria (INTA), Estacio ´ n Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche, C.C. 277 (8400) S.C. de Bariloche, Rı ´o Negro, Argentina Abstract Carcass characteristics of 336 kids from the Neuque ´n Criollo breed were evaluated. Two categories were taken into account: three months and 5 to 7 months kids. Live weight, carcass weights, measurement and indexes of 304 kids were calculated in a study done in a commercial slaughterhouse located in Chos Malal town. Thirty two carcass left sides were dissected into the major components: muscle, bone, fat and remaining tissues. Three months kids were compared with 5 to 7 months kids. The slaughter live weight of the former was 16.3 kg and the latter was 22.4 kg. Cold carcass weight and dressing percentage differed significantly (p < 0.001) between age categories. Three months kids had a higher percentage of bones (26.8 vs. 21.7%; p < 0.001) and a lower percentage of fat (10.8 vs. 15%; p < 0.01) than those at 5–7 months, but both had similar percentages of muscle (56.4 vs. 57%; p = NS). There were significant differences in the percentages of primal carcass cuts: hind leg (32 vs. 34%; p < 0.001), shoulder (22 vs. 20%; p < 0.001) and neck, (10 vs. 8%; p < 0.01) for three months vs. 5–7 months old kids, respectively. Ó 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Carcass traits; Goat meat; Body measurements 1. Introduction In the north part of Neuque ´n province, in the Argentin- ean Patagonia, some 410,000 (INDEC, 2002) Neuque ´n Cri- ollo goats are herded under natural grazing conditions. The region has approximately 30,000 km 2 and is located between longitude 71° and 68° W, and between latitude 36° and 38° S. The traditional production system is exten- sive, and transhumance is practiced from the chaparral winter fields to the summer meadows at the Andes foot- steps in the spring and then back to the winter fields in autumn. The main commercial product of this system is the kid. Slaughter age ranges from two to seven months and the commercial season is from October to June. The overall objective of the research is to preserve the production system and to increase the income of the goat holders. Studies are needed to improve our knowledge of the production chain from the grasslands to the presenta- tion of kid meat to consumers, continuing previous studies (Lanari, Domingo, & Pe ´rez Centeno, 2005; Lanari, Domingo, Pe ´rez Centeno, & Gallo, 2005; Pe ´rez Centeno et al., 2006). The present work characterizes kid carcasses at different ages – at the beginning and at the end of the harvest season. The final aim of these studies is to apply for the pro- tected origin designation (POD) ‘‘Chivito Criollo del Norte Neuquino”. The implementation of the POD will give the goat keepers of the area the incentive to keep on producing according to traditional methods. The resulting kid meat is in high demand by regional consumers, which is of para- mount importance for the sustainability of a POD (Texe- ira, Batista, Delfa, & Cadavez, 2005). 0309-1740/$ - see front matter Ó 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.12.007 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: mzimerman@bariloche.inta.gov.ar (M. Zimerman). www.elsevier.com/locate/meatsci Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Meat Science 79 (2008) 453–457 MEAT SCIENCE