ABSTRACT This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effects of diet on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of three selected indigenous goat breeds (Afar, Gumuz and LES) of Ethiopia. The study was conducted on thirty six intact yearling male goats (IBW = 16.89 ± 0.32). Twelve goats from each breed were randomly assigned for two dietary treatments groups (diet 1: 2 % body weight commercial concentrate and 2 % body weight natural pasture hay and diet 2: 2 % body weight commercial concentrate and 2 % body weight finger millet straw) and fed on dry matter basis for 90 days with 2×3 factorial RCBD. At the end of feeding experiment digestibility study was conducted. Finally, four animals per treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass and meat quality evaluation. Carcass measurements were taken and four meat samples from logismus dorsi muscle were taken for determination of chemical composition and sensorial meat color evaluation at different days after slaughter. The chemical analysis result showed that natural pasture hay had higher nutritive value (DM, OM, CP, ADF and NDF) than finger millet straw. It was observed that no interaction effect between breeds and diet (G*D) in growth rate, feed intake, digestibility, carcass and meat quality. The average daily dry matter intake was 792.70 ± 11.42 g/d/goat and no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) on dry matter and nutrient intake between breeds. However, the effect of dietary type on most nutrient intake parameters was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in goat groups fed diet 1. Similarly there was no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) between goat breeds on nutrient intake (% BW) and the mean values for intakes of DM, OM, CP, ADF, NDF, ADL and IVOMD were 4.007, 3.658, 0.468, 0.982, 2.135, 0.160 and 0.274 kg, respectively. Regarding to digestibility of nutrients the mean digestible coefficient of DMD, OMD, CPD, NDFD and ADFD were 45.93 ± 0.03, 55.92 ± 0.02, 72.44 ± 0.03, 50.58 ± 0.02 and 26.79 ± 0.02, respectively. The Effect of breed was revealed only on NDFD however effect of diet was observed on CPD and NDF. Breed and diet did not show differences (p ≥ 0.05) on FBW but it was observed there is a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) on BWC, ADG and FCE. Gumuz goat breed showed significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) results of BWC, ADG and FCE than Agew and LES goat breeds. Similarly, goats under diet one (hay) was significantly higher on these parameters than diet two (FMS) groups. Only weights of hind quarter and tail were significantly lower in Gumuz goat breed xiv than LES and Agew breeds however totally there was no difference between Agew and LES goat breeds in main carcass characteristics. Likewise breed was non-significant on most non carcass parameters except, weight of testicle and spleen, at both parameters Agew goat breed had significantly higher than two breeds. Effect of diet was higher in main carcass characteristics and minimal on non-carcass parameters. Out of main carcass parameters only dressing percentage, thoracic lumbar part, rib eye muscle and tail were not affected by roughage feed type. In contrast to this among non-carcass parameters heart, testicle and lung showed different responses for dietary types. The mean TEO,TUP and TUP (% SLW) of three indigenous goat breeds were 3.32 ± 0.08, 13.59 ± 0.37 and 60.51 ± 0.64, respectively and they were insignificantly affected by breed and dietary types except TUP which was significantly higher in diet one fed goats. Regarding to internal fat components only pelvic fat was higher in diet one fed goats, the other parameters were independent of breed and diet. The mean KF, PF and OMF contents of indigenous goats were 110.81 ± 26.84, 105.94 ± 17.01 and 250.19 ± 39.23 grams. Effects of breed and diet were non-significant on meat physio-chemical properties of indigenous goat breeds. The moisture, ash, protein, fat and carbohydrate contents of meat were 71.94 ± 0.33, 3.04 ± 0.14, 20.03 ± 0.58, 4.61 ± 0.48 and 0.38 ± 0.03 percent respectively. The Likert scale result showed that breed type is the main factor for meat color than diet. LES goat breed had lighter and meat from Agew goat breed found darker color than other goat breeds starting from slaughter to ten days after slaughter. Generally, the study confirmed that the effect of breed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and meat chemical composition was minimal however the color of meat was inherited and feed had no effect on it. Moreover, improving the infrastructural issues in shortening time required from slaughter to destined market would allow acceptance of meat from other breeds since meat of highland goat was acceptable till five days after slaughter. Searching of other export markets that are not sensitive for meat color could other option of increasing meat export of the country. Key words; Breed; Carcass; Digestibility; Goat; growth; Meat