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Baby beef production from buffalo calves raised on different feeding regimes
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Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rearing techniques of buffalo calves on growth performance, feed conversion, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of buffalo calves. Sixteen suckling buffalo bull calves, one week old, were assigned to two groups according to their live body weight. First group (Control; n=6; 38.5 :J: 2.53 kg) was raised on whole buffalo milk from birth to 15 week of age, thereafter calves were fed dry feed only until slaughter (195 days of age). The second group (milk-fed; n=10; 37.4:±: 1.96 kg) was raised the same as control until 15th week and thereafter fed 1 kg of whole milk/day/calf continuously until slaughter (188.2 day of age). The target of this supplement was to prevent weaning shock, improve growth rate and maintain baby veal beef characteristics after early fattening. Both groups received calf starter (ad libitum). berseem and wheat straw allover the trial. The average daily gain (AOG) was improved linearly with the advancement of age, although the differences between groups appeared from 16th week of age (second period; 1.003 :±: 0.06 kg and 1.377 :±: 0.05 kg for control and milk-fed groups, respectively; P<0.01). Total dry matter intake (DMI) was higher (P<0.01) in milk-fed group than control especially in second period. Therefore, feed conversion was better (by about 17.3%) in supplemented group than control during second period (2.96 VS. 3.58 kg DM/kg gain) and it was better than those in starting period. Carcass length, weight and its quarters were higher in milk-fed group than those in control. However, the hot dressing percentage did not differ between groups. Crude protein percentage was higher (P<0.05) in eye muscle of treated group than control. Additionally, ether extract percentage of meat was higher (P>0.05) in milk-fed group than control, whereas the moisture was lower (P<0.05) in the same group. Milk-fed group exhibited a higher percentage of expressible fluid, cocking losses and tenderness of meat than those of control. The income of early fattening was very good and it was higher in (milk-fed group than control by about 18.7%. The results suggest that whole milk supplementation in small quantities after weaning age in veal production could be an advantageous alternative to improve growth performance and carcass and meat quality. Also, it can be started at early fattening to produce high quality of meat and profit of fattening.
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| Publication year |
2006
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| Pages |
6271-6282
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| City |
المنصورة
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| serial title |
Journal Agricultural Science Mansoura University
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| ISSN |
1110-0346
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Animal feedingAnimal physiology - Nutrition
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Carcass composition.
Chemical composition.
Economic analysis.
Feed conversion efficiency.
Growth rate.
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| Proposed Agrovoc |
buffalo calves;growth performance;
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| Publication Type |
Journal
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