Effects of age and sex on slaughtering and carcass characteristics of Turkish native geese reared in free range production conditions in Kars province [Kars İlinde serbest çiftlik koşullari{dotless}nda yetiştirilmiş yerli irk kazlari{dotless}n kesim ve karkas özellikleri üzerine yaş ve cinsiyetin etkisi]

This study was carried out to determine slaughtering and carcass characteristics of turkish native geese,raised in freerange conditions in kars province. geese were divided into sex and age (group 1=6-8 months old and group 2=18-20 monthsold) groups. live weights at slaughter were 3572.3 and 3887.5 g for group 1 and 2 (p<0.05) respectively,and were 3799.4 and3649.4 g for male and female geese. for group 1 and group 2,hot carcass weight and hot dressing percentage were 2598.2 gand 72.6%,and 2855.5 g and 73.5% respectively,and 2756.8 g and 72.4% for males and 2697.9 g and 73.7% for females. bloodweight and feet weight were significantly affected by sex (p<0.05),and also for neck weight and gizzard weight (p<0.01). inwhole carcass weight,percentage of high-value parts,i.e. breast and legs (thighs and drumsticks),were 53% and percentage oflow-values ones,i.e. back,wings and neck 40%,and 7% for total fat. it may be concluded that the weights of carcass were lowbut dressing percentage values were higher for turkish native geese,raised in free range without fattening.