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In this study, the body condition score (BCS) of 55 Slovenian Alpine goats at artificial insemination was recorded over a period of two years. The effect of the doe BCS at insemination on the litter size at birth, the number of weaned kids, the birth weight of the kids, and the interval between parities was studied. The BCS at artificial insemination significantly affected the litter size at birth (P < 0.001) and, the number of weaned kids (P < 0.05). The number of kids born and weaned per doe was the highest in does with a BCS of 2.0 and 2.5 compared to does with a BCS of 1.5, 3.0 or 3.5. The results suggest an optimum BCS between 2.0 and 2.5 at insemination or mating to achieve a higher litter size per female. The birth weight of the kids differed significantly depending on the BCS of the does (P < 0.05) with the highest birth weight occurring in the kids of does with a BCS of 3.5, 3.0 and 1.5. Considering all these results, body condition scoring could be an effective method for the goat breeders to optimally manage body reserves and thus increase the production efficiency in terms of prolificacy in their flocks.

Twenty-eight (12 male and 16 female) of improved Jezersko-solèava lambs with Romanov (JSR) were used to evaluate the effect of live weight and sex on carcass traits and meat quality. Lambs were weaned at around 60 days of age. They were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum and slaughtered at 29 kg or 43 kg of average live weight at 105 or 126 days of age. Daily gain from birth to slaughter was higher than 300 g/day and was very similar for both groups. There were no differences between light and heavy lambs in carcass conformation and dressing percentage. Heavy lambs were longer, wider and fatter. The difference in lungs, head and pelt percentage were statistically significant. With increased live weight at slaughter the percentage of neck, back and rib with flank increased and chuck, shoulder and hindleg decreased. Muscle percentage in hindleg increased and bone percentage decreased as live weight increased. Considering meat quality, heavier lambs had lower lightness and higher redness. Lighter lambs had higher pH45 value. Differences between sexes were statistically significant for dressing percentage and carcass fatness with higher values for females. Males had higher percentage of liver and head, higher proportion of neck, chuck and shoulder and lower proportion of back and loin. Males tended to have higher values for muscle and bone proportion, and lower proportion of fat in hindleg. Males had lighter meat. Sex had no effect on pH values.