International Journal of Meat Science2071-7113xxxx-xxxxAsian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijmeat.2012.34.39JibirM. JibrilaI. GarbaS. IsaA.M. OmojolaA.B. 2201222The experiment was conducted with the aim of investigating effects of breed and age on carcass and lean quality characteristics of goats in the study area. To achieve the aim, a total of 32 intact bucks, matching condition score 3 of the Australian Standard for Live Goat Evaluation were balanced for weight across 8 replicates of 2 breeds (Sokoto Red and Sahel) and 2 age treatments (Young and Mature). Animals were bled by slashing their throats to sever the jugular, the carotid, the trachea and the oesophagus. After bleeding, the animals were partially skinned lying on their backs on the floor. Thereafter, the animals were suspended by the hind legs on a 14 cm wide gambrel for further skinning. The head was removed at the atlanto-occipital joint and the fore and hind feet removed at the carpal and tarsal joints respectively. Breed had no effect (p>0.05) on any of the traits investigated. Also, feathering, flank streaking and marbling were not affected by age (p>0.05). However, mature goats recorded significantly higher values (1.438, 1.625, 1.750, 1.812 and 1.625) for flank firmness, kidney fat score, subcutaneous fat score, lean texture and lean firmness respectively. Corresponding figures for young animals were 1.062, 1.125, 1.062, 1.000 and 1.188. It was observed that goats in the study area have poor carcass fat deposition.]]>Aduku, A.O. and J.O. Olukosi,19911st Edn.,pp: 264pp: 264Attwood, B.M.,20022002Colomer-Rocher, F., P. Morand-Fehr and A.H. Kirton,198717149159Devendra, C.,198051461 473Devendra, C.,19881988p: 3043Devendra, C.,19881988pp: 7686ESMGPA,20052005FAO., 20052005Forrest, J.C., E.D. Aberle, H.B. Hedrick, M.D. Judge and R.A. Merkel,1975pp: 417pp: 417Gaili, E.S.E., Y.S. Ghanem and A.M.S. Mukhtar,197214351357Griffin, C.L., M.W. Orcutt, R.R. Riley, G. Smith, C. Savell and M. Shelton,199286774Ibarra, P.I.,19881988pp: 100108IBM Corporation,20072007Johnson, D.D., C.H. McGowen, G. Nurse and M.R. Anous,1995175763Microsoft Inc,20072007Morand-Fehr, P.,19811981pp: 253-283pp: 253-283Naude, R.T. and H.S. Hofmeyr, 19811981pp: 285-307pp: 285-307Nigerian Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services,19921992Tshabalala, P.A., P.E. Strydom, E.C. Webb and H.L. de Kock,200365563570Von Maydel, H.J. and G. Spatz,1981183043Wilson, R.T.,19821982pp: 186191