EFFECT OF FEEDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MAIZE SILAGE ON FEED INTAKE, LIVE WEIGHT GAIN, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, AND MEAT QUALITY OF HARAR CATTLE

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Abstract:

The experiment was conducted at Haramaya University Beef fattening station, to evaluate the effect of maize silage inclusion at different levels on feed intake, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Twelve castrated Harar oxen of average age 6 years with the initial body weight of 229±1.18 kg (mean+SE) were used for the experiment. The animals were randomly distributed to four treatments each with three replications in a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments contained the maize silage inclusion at a proportion of 0, 33, 67, and 100% for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The rest proportion of roughage was fulfilled by native grass hay and offered ad libitum to respective treatment groups. The experimental animals were watered and supplemented with concentrate ration at 1.25% of their body weight twice a day. The feeding trial lasted for 90 days. All animals were slaughtered at the end of the trial for the evaluation of carcass and meat quality. The maize silage DM and CP contents were 30.5 and 8%, respectively. Daily DM intake of the ox was signinficantly higher (P

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EFFECT OF FEEDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MAIZE SILAGE ON FEED INTAKE, LIVE WEIGHT GAIN, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, AND MEAT QUALITY OF HARAR CATTLE

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