Feed Restriction in Kacang Goats: Major Impacts on Carcass Yield and Metabolic Gene Expression, but not Meat Fatty Acid Profile

Feed restriction is commonly implemented in smallholder goat systems; however, its effects on carcass, meat quality, and molecular aspects in Indonesian Kacang goats remain inadequately defined. Fifteen intact male Kacang goats were allocated to three dry-matter allowances over a period of 90 days: Higher (HR, 4% DM BW), Medium (MD, 3% DM BW), and Lower (LR, 2% DM BW). Data on slaughter traits, carcass and non-carcass components, primal cuts, meat proximate composition, and intramuscular fatty acid profile were collected. The expression levels of GHR, IGF1, FASN, and ACACA were quantified in the brain, liver, and longissimus dorsi using qPCR. Severe restriction (LR) significantly reduced slaughter weight, carcass weight and percentage, meat and bone yields, and various non-carcass components compared to high restriction (HR) and moderate restriction (MD), while MD generally preserved carcass performance akin to HR. Meat proximate composition and intramuscular fatty acid profile did not differ significantly among treatments. Showed a non-significant trend of higher expression in HR and MD groups compared to LR, whereas brain GHR appeared to be highest in LR. FASN and ACACA variability between tissues and treatments did not affect intramuscular fat levels or fatty acid classes. Severe feed limitation lowered carcass yield but not meat lipid quality in this 90-day experiment. A feeding level of 3% DM BW maintained carcass performance comparable to 4% DM BW, suggesting that moderate restriction may reduce feed allowance without compromising carcass yield within the conditions of this study.