A total of 24 four-month-old Liuyang Black wether goats (10±0.2 kg) were allotted to two diets based on wheat and maize to investigate effects of starch sources on the growth performance and meat quality. The experimental period lasted for 100 days, including 10 days for adaptation. Five representative goats from each group were selected for slaughter on the last experimental day. The final body weight and body weight gain of goats in wheat group were lower than those of goats in maize group (P<0.05), however, the marbling score of the Longissimus dorsi of goats in wheat group was greater than that of goats in maize group (P<0.05). Fatty acid composition of Longissimus dorsi muscle was also different between wheat group and maize group, for example, the proportion of C14:0 in Longissimus dorsi muscle of goats in wheat group was greater than that of goats in maize group (P<0.05), and the proportion of C18:3 in Longissimus dorsi muscle of goats in wheat group was smaller than that of goats in maize group. Results indicate that growth performance of the goats fed the diet based on maize was better and the proportion of 18:3 fatty acids and marbling score of Longissimus dorsi muscle was smaller in comparison with the goats fed the diet based on wheat.