Feedlot performance and profitability of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu finished on local feed resources in Kongwa District, Tanzania
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Date
2022-10-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science Publishing Group
Abstract
An experiment was conducted for 90 days to assess the effects of diets formulated based on locally available feed
ingredients on growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and gross margin of cattle under feedlot condition in Kogwa
district, Tanzania. Fifty bulls belonging to Tanzania shorthorn zebu breed, with the age of three to four years and average
initial weight of 130 kg were used. The bulls were allotted to five treatments (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 ) in a completely randomized
design. Animals on treatments T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 were kept under confinement, fed Cenchrus ciliaris hay and supplemented
with concentrate diets formulated based on locally available ingredients while those on T 5 were grazed in natural pastures
without being supplemented. The diet on T 1 contained maize bran as the sole energy source while T 2 comprised maize bran
and rice polishing as energy sources, T 3 comprised maize bran and molasses as energy sources and T 4 had maize bran, rice
polishing and molasses as energy sources. All diets contained sunflower seed cake and mineral pre-mixes as protein and
mineral sources, respectively. The bulls subjected to concentrate supplementation (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ) had higher (P < 0.0001)
weight gain and growth rate than those on T 5 . Among the bulls supplemented with concentrate diets, those on T 3 had the
highest weight gain (107 kg) and growth rate (1.28 kg/d) and lower FCR (6.48), followed by those on T 1 (weight gain = 96.70
kg, growth rate = 1.07 kg/d, FCR = 6.509). Moreover, the bulls on T 3 had the highest gross margin (TZS 235,471). In
conclusion, the diet on T 3 was found to be better than the other diets. Therefore, it can be used by farmers for fattening of
indigenous cattle at an affordable cost and obtain large profit.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Feed conversion ratio, Gross margin, Local feed ingredients, Weight gain