Browsing by Author "Hvelplund, T."

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Assessment on the availability of cattle and feeds for quality beef production in Tanzanian
(ENRECA IGMAFU, 2008) Nandonde, S.W.; Tarimo, M.; Laswai, G.H.; Mgheni, D.M.; Mtenga, L.A.; Kimambo, A.E.; Madsen, J.; Hvelplund, T.; Weisbjerg, M.R.
Growing demand for quality beef has motivated livestock keepers to finish cattle under feedlot. However, there is no reliable information on feed and animal resources that could sustainably support beef fattening in Tanzania.
Carcass and meat quality characteristics of indigenous cattle in Tanzania
(EGERTON UNIVERSITY, KENYA ., 2010) Mwilawa, A. J.; Kimambo, A. E.; Mtenga, L. A.; Laswai, G. H.; Madsen, J.; Hvelplund, T.; Weisbjerg, M. R.; Christensen, M.; Mgheni, D.M.
Seventy two Tanzania indigenous cattle (36 Boran steers; 2-3 years old; initial liveweight 225 kg and 36 Tanzania Short Horn Zebu (TSHZ); 3-4 years old; initial liveweight 117 kg) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments to study the effects of breed, diet and ageing time on carcass and meat quality characteristics. Animals were fed three different diets: grazing alone (Diet 1: control), control + 50 % ad libitum concentrate intake (Diet 2) and ad libitum hay + ad libitum concentrate intake (Diet 3). The concentrate contained 126 g CP and 13 MJ ME per kg DM. The steers were fattened for 90 days, slaughtered, and carcass and meat quality assessed. Boran had heavier (P<0.05) empty body weight, carcass weight and greater rib area than TSHZ (242 vs. 192 kg; 132 vs. 108 kg and 56 vs. 47 cm2). Animals fed diet 3 had higher (P<0.05) dressing percentage, carcass fat thickness, conformation score and normal meat colour score (54%; 2 cm; 12; 2.9) followed by Diet 2 (51%; 0.9 cm; 9; 3.7 and lastly Diet 1 (47%; 0.6 cm; 7; 4.4). In addition, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle from animals fed Diet 3 had the lowest (P<0.05) shear force (45 N) indicating very tender meat whereas LD from animals fed diet 1 had the highest value (60 N) indicating less tender meat. Increasing post-mortem storage time from 2 up to 20 days decreased (P<0.05) shear force by 65%. It is concluded that both Boran and TSHZ cattle obtained acceptable range of meat quality values and that tender meat can be produced from indigenous cattle through feedlot finishing and post-mortem storage at refrigerated temperatures
Predicting of maximum forage intake capacity in cattle from degradability characteristics, passage rate and rumen pool size of NDF
(2005) Mgheni, D.M.; Weisbjerg, M.R.; Kimambo, A.E.; Hvelplund, T.; Madsen, J.; Mtenga, L.A.
An experiment (5 x 5 Latin Square) was conducted to estimate the physical fill of tropical forages and maximum intake capacity of five mature non-pregnant crossbred dairy heifers kept under zero grazing system. Five (5) forages [Brachiaria brizantha hay (BH), Maize (Zea mays) silage (MS), Lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay (LH), Lucerne and grass hay (LGH) and urea-treated rice straw (UTRS)) were used. The forages were fed as sole diets ad libitum with only minerals and vitamins supplements. Water was provided all the time and measured daily. Voluntary feed intake (VFJ) and faecal output were measured for seven days. Degradability characteristics were obtained in situ using the nylon bag technique. Rumen pool size of NDF was measured by rumen evacuation technique. Passage rates were calculated based on faecal output and rumen pool size of NDF. There was a marked difference (P<0. 000l) between the rate and extent at which NDF for tropical forages was degraded. The rate of passage (% h-1) was different (P<0.03) between forage diets with values ranging from 1.4 to 1.8 for MS and UTRS, respectively. Rumen pool sizes of NDF were different (P<0.01) between forage diets and weighed 4.8, 3.8, 4.7, 5.2 and 4.5 kg for BH, MS, LH, LGH and UTRS, respectively. Fill (days) also varied between forage diets and ranged from 1.4 for UTRS to 1.8 for MS. The intake capacity of animals for NDF were different (P<0.01), highest in animals fed LGH (5.0 kg-1) and lowest in animals fed MS 3.1 kg-1). Using predicted NDF intake (PNDFJ) based on NDF degradability characteristics and passage rates derived from faecal output and rumen pool size of NDF, good prediction of dry matter intake was obtained (R2 = 0.70). It was concluded that a system of describing the physical fill of NDF in tropical forages could be used to predict VFI in cattle.