Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of feed quality improvement using gliricidia and different sources of protein in total mixed ration (TMR) on the primal cuts, loin eye area, and fatty acids profile of goat meat. This study used twenty yearling Kacang goats weighing 17.42±1.63 kg. The goats were randomly allocated into 4 different treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments involved the use of natural grass from rangeland (NGFR; control) as well as improving the quality of feed through TMR containing various ruminally undegraded protein sources, i.e. TMR contains fish meal (TMR-FM), TMR contains soybean meal (TMR-SBM) and TMR contains formaldehyde treated soybean meal (TMR-TSBM). The parameters observed were primal cuts yield, loin eye area, meat, fat, bone of primal cuts, and fatty acids profile. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that the goats fed TMR-FM and TMR-TSBM produced significantly higher meat percentage than control goats. The meat yield of TMR-SBM and TMR-TSBM goats were significantly higher than those of control goats. Goats fed TMR-SBM produced the highest primal cuts yield and shoulder weight, while the weight of rib, loin, and leg of TMR-SBM goats were similar to those of TMR-TSBM goats. Loin eye area was similar between the treatments. Saturated fatty acids content in TMR groups was similar to those in control. It can be concluded that improved feed quality using TMR-SBM produced significantly higher primal cuts weight, while TMR-TSBM had better meat-to-bone ratio than control. TMR-TSBM goats produced significantly leaner meat than TMR-SBM goats. Fatty acid profiles were similar between treatments. © The Author(s) 2025