Growth and dry matter intake curve analysis of crossbred male calves in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out at Holetta agricultural Research center dairy farm to estimate the growth and dry matter intake curves parameters of different genetic groups of crossbred male calves. A total of 48 weaned Friesian Boran (FB) crossbred calves consisting of 24 male calves having 50% Friesian blood level and another 24 growing calves having 75% Friesian blood level were used for this study. The calves were managed under individual feeding management for a fattening period of 626 days. Body weight and dry matter intake data were fitted into Gompertz nonlinear growth model. Mean values for growth parameters in 50% FB and 75% FB crosses were 727.0 and 730.2 kg; 2.85 and 2.78; 0.0019 and 0.0017 kg/day; 547.95 and 595.68 days; 257.46 and 268.63 kg; for mature weight, integration constant, maturity rate, age at inflection point and body weight at inflection point, respectively. This study revealed that 50% FB crossbred bull calves are fast maturing genotype and had significantly lower DMI at mature age than 75% FB crosses. Generally, 50% FB crossbred bull calves can be used for fattening purpose to meet increasing lean meat demand of consumers in Ethiopia with decreased feed cost under improved feeding system.

KEYWORDS:

• Body weight
• correlation
• crosses
• inflection point
• genetic group

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (Holeta Agricultural Research Center) for financing this work. Technical assistances of Dairy Research Program at Holeta Research Center are also acknowledged for their unreserved support during experiment work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).