Comparative slaughter performance and carcass quality of three Ethiopian fat-tailed hair sheep breeds supplemented with two levels of concentrate.

A study was conducted to compare carcass and noncarcass yield, carcass composition, conformation, and fat depot partitioning of three Ethiopian fat-tailed hair sheep breeds (Blackhead Ogaden (BHO), Horro, and Washera) under two concentrate supplement levels (CSL). Sixteen sheep from each genotype (8 sheep per concentrate level), a total of 48, were used in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement (3 breeds and 2 CSL). The two CSL were 1% (L1) and 1.75% (L2) body weight. Animals were about a year of age at the start of the experiment and all were slaughtered after 90 days of fattening. Dressing percentage per SBW was in the orders of Horro > BHO = Washera (P < 0.001). Total edible noncarcass component yield per EBW (TENCCY/EBW) of Horro breed (21%) was heavier (P < 0.0001) by about 2.8% than that from BHO and Washera sheep. Blackhead Ogaden sheep had significantly (P < 0.05) higher fat percentage and fat to bone ratio, while lower lean to fat ratio than Horro and Washera sheep. The fat partitioning results showed that carcass depot is the major fat depot in BHO and Horro sheep, whereas carcass fat and tail fat in Washera sheep had comparable value. The highest (P < 0.0001) carcass compactness index (CCI) value was obtained in Horro sheep, while the value for Washera was the lowest coupled with leg compactness index; as a result, Washera sheep had poor carcass conformation. Sheep supplemented with L2 had heavier HCW and CCW (P < 0.0001), wider RMA, and dressed better (P < 0.001) than L1-fed sheep. Carcass fat per CCW, carcass fat per total body fat (TBF), TYEP per SBW, and CCI values of the L2 diet-fed group were 2.7, 1.8, 1.2%, and 13.2 g/cm, respectively, higher (P < 0.05) than L1-supplemented sheep. The result highlights that Horro and Washera have closely comparable carcass composition, indicating the two breeds were at a similar stage of physiological maturity, while BHO appeared to be an early maturing sheep, suggesting a need for different feeding management for BHO to harvest lean meat. In conclusion, there existed a significant breed variation in most parameters considered in this study, which can be an opportunity to select breeds for various use and production objectives.

Effects of feeding sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) vines as a supplement on feed intake, growth performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics of Sidama goats fed a basal diet of natural grass hay.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of substituting sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam] vines for concentrate on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics. Thirty yearling bucks (15.3 ± 1.64 kg) were assigned into six treatments in a randomized complete block design: natural grass hay alone (T1) or supplemented with 100 % sweet potato vines (SPV) (T2), 65 % SPV + 35 % concentrate (T3), 35 % SPV + 65 % concentrate (T4), and 100 % concentrate (T5) on dry matter (DM) basis. Supplemented goats (T2, T3, T4, and T5) consumed higher (p < 0.001) total DM (553, 567, 505, and 515 g/day), respectively, when compared to the nonsupplemented (T1) goats (349 g/day). The crude protein (CP) intake (32.0, 48.6, 54.7, and 69.2 g/day) increased with increasing levels of the concentrate in the diet for T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively. The DM digestibility in T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively, was higher (P < 0.01) (0.69, 0.72, 0.72, and 0.74) than in T1 (0.56). Apparent digestibility of CP was observed to be higher (P < 0.001) in T3, T4, T5 (0.78, 0.83, and 0.88) when compared to the bucks in T2 (0.60). Higher (P < 0.001) daily weight gain (31.2, 46.4, 48.6, and 47.6 g/day) were recorded for T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively, whereas the nonsupplemented goats lost weight (-19.5 g/day). Slaughter weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, rib-eye muscle area, and total edible offals were higher (P < 0.05) in supplemented goats compared with nonsupplemented ones. Therefore, it could be concluded that sweet potato vine can replace the conventional concentrate and could be fed with poor quality hay to prevent body weight loss of animal in the absence of other feed supplements.

Effects of level of concentrate supplementation on growth performance of Arsi-Bale and Boer × Arsi-Bale male goats consuming low-quality grass hay.

Eighteen Arsi-Bale (local) and 18 Boer × Arsi-Bale (crossbred) male goats, initially approximately 10 months of age, were used in a 12-week experiment to investigate potential interactions between genotype and nutritional plane in growth performance, carcass and skin characteristics, and mass of non-carcass components. Grass hay (6.7% crude protein and 71.9% neutral detergent fiber) was consumed ad libitum supplemented with 150, 300, or 450 g/day (dry matter; low, moderate, and high, respectively) of a concentrate mixture (50% wheat bran, 49% noug seed cake, and 1% salt). Initial body weight was 20.7 and 14.0 kg for crossbred and local goats, respectively (SE = 0.36). Hay dry matter intake was greater (P < 0.05) for crossbred vs. local goats (461 and 429 g/day) and similar among concentrate levels (438, 444, and 451 g/day for high, moderate, and low, respectively; SE = 4.7). Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.05) for crossbred than for local goats (36.6 and 20.8 g) and differed (P < 0.05) among each level of concentrate (43.7, 29.6, and 12.8 g for high, moderate, and low, respectively). Dressing percentage was similar between genotypes (41.1% and 41.1% live body weight for crossbred and local goats, respectively; SE = 0.59) and greater (P < 0.05) for high vs. low (43.5% vs. 38.7% live body weight). Carcass weight differed (P < 0.05) between genotypes (9.23 and 6.23 kg for crossbred and local goats, respectively) and high and low (8.80 and 6.66 kg, respectively). Carcass concentrations of physically dissectible lean and fat were similar between genotypes and high and low concentrate levels. There were few differences between genotypes or concentrate levels in other carcass characteristics such as color and skin properties. Relative to empty body weight, the mass of most non-carcass tissues and organs did not differ between genotypes. However, the low concentrate-level mass of omental-mesenteric fat was greater (P < 0.05) for local vs. crossbred goats (1.06% vs. 0.54% empty body weight, respectively). In conclusion, growth performance and carcass weight advantages from crossing Boer and Arsi-Bale goats were similar with a low-quality basal grass hay diet regardless of level of supplemental concentrate.