EVALUATION OF COMPLETE FEED FOR MEAT PRODUCTION IN CALVES
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Date
2002
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR
Abstract
An experiment was carried out in three months old crossbred calves with
an aim to utilize male and surplus female calves for meat production. Eighteen
crossbred calves were grouped into three, considering body weight, breed, sex
and age. Animals of group A and B received complete feed consisting of a
concentrate mixture and grass hay, with eight (Ration A) and twelve per cent
crude fibre (Ration B) respectively, while the animals of group C received the
conventional control ration consisting concentrate and green grass (Ration C).
During the experimental period of five months fortnightly body weights and
body measurements were recorded. The body weights and body measurements
except chest girth showed significant increase (P<0.01) in the animal fed
complete rations. The average daily body weight gain (ADG) showed significant
increase (P<0.01) in animals fed eight per cent crude fibre complete ration than
those fed control ration while the cumulative feed conversion efficiency was
significantly higher for group A (P<0.01) and group B (P<0.05) than that of
group C. The average daily body weight gain obtained in the expenment were
668.83 ± 22.37, 658.55 ± 35.41 and 497.83 ± 33.35 g/day and the cumulative
feed conversion efficiency were 4.71 ±0.15, 5.57 ± 0.37 and 6.99 ± 0.42 for A,
B and C groups respectively. The digestibility coefficients for dry matter and
crude fibre were significantly higher (P<0.01) for animals fed control ration than
those fed complete rations, while crude protein digestibility was lower for ration
A (P<0.05) and ration B (P<0.01) than that of control. The dressing percentage
obtained were 50.80 ± 0.70, 51.30 ± 1.43 and 45.17 ± 1.25 with a meat yield of
34.60 ± 0.15, 35.30 ± 1.12 and 30.73 ± 1.24 for A. B and C groups respectively.
The gross profit per animals for five months was calculated as Rs. 1399.00,
Rs. 1550.00 and Rs.632.25 for A, B and C groups respectively.
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Citation
KVASU REFERENCE CITATION