Effects of different diets on weight gain, carcass and meat quality characteristics of two indigenous cattle breeds of Tanzania
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Date
2012
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Publisher
Sokoine university of agriculture
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of different diets on weight gain.
carcass and meat quality characteristics of two indigenous cattle in Tanzania. In
Experiment (Expt.) 1, 60 Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSHZ) (1.5 to 2.5 years old and 99
±11 kg LWT) and 60 Boran (1 to 2 years old and 167 ± 8 kg LWT) steers were randomly
allocated to five dietary treatments in a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement during the wet
season. While in Expt. 2, 36 TSHZ (3 to 4 years old and 177 ± 9 kg LWT) and 36 Boran
(2 to 3 years old and 225 ± 12 kg LWT) steers were randomly allocated to three dietary
treatments in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangements during the dry season. Diets in Expt. 1 were
GrazC00 where animals were purely grazing as control, GrazC50 (grazing animals
offered 50 % ad libitum concentrate intake) while diets HayC60. HayC80 and HayClOO
comprised animals given ad libitum hay plus 60, 80 and 100 % of ad libitum concentrate
intake, respectively. Similar diets were used in Expt. 2 except HayC60 and HayC80 were
excluded. The concentrate contained maize meal (380), cotton seed cake (130), molasses
(470), mineral mix (10), salt (5) and urea (5) g/kg feed to give 125 g CP and 12 MJ ME
per kg DM. The two experiments lasted 100 and 90 days, respectively, for Expt. 1 and
Expt. 2 after which all animals were slaughtered. Data on performance, carcass and meat
characteristics were recorded and analysed. Net returns were calculated for each
treatment. ADG and DP increased with concentrate offered in both Expt. 1 and 2. Shear
force were lower (P<0.05) in Boran than TSHZ. Shear force values decreased (P<0.05)
with increasing level of concentrate offered. Shear force decreased (P<0.05) with
increase in ageing time. Positive net returns were only obtained when carcasses were
sold at prices higher than the actual market prices for meat at the time of the two
experiments. In conclusion, the quantity and quality of meat produced from indigenous cattle breeds in Tanzania can be improved through feeding fattening diets but this can
only be profitable when meat is sold at higher prices than the current conventional prices
of meat.
Description
PhD Theses
Keywords
Different diets, Weight gain, Carcass, Meat quality characteristics, Indigenous cattle breeds, Tanzania