Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of nilotic male kids fed on two different diets

Abstract

Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of 13 Nilotic male kids fed for 9 weeks on sorghum and molasses-based diets were investigated. Analysis of covariance revealed no differences (p>0.05) in the final scapuloischial length (47.33±2.07 and 48.86±3.76 cm); final FfW (56.17±1.33 and 55.57±2.94 cm) and final HG (55.00±2.45 and 54.86±2.29 cm) for the sorghum-and molasses-based dietary groups, respectively. The type of diet also had no effect in the final BW (16.36 andl7.37 kg); daily WG(60.88 and 54.39 g day-1; DM (461.62 and 464.62 g day-1); CP (93.62 and 92.43 g day-1) and ME (5.00 and 5.62 MJ day-1) intakes. However, feeding sorghum-based diet improved (p<0.05) the FCR (5.87±1.00) in comparison to feeding molasses-based diet (10.74±2.59). The carcass characteristics were not affected by the type of diet (p>0.05) where the hot carcass weights were 7.85 and 7.21 kg; cold carcasses weights were 7.40 and 7.12 kg; dressing out percentages of hot carcasses were 48.20 and 44.73%; dressing out percentages of cold carcasses were 54.00 and 57.40% and carcass shrinkage were 9.60 and 6.83%. The type of diet did not affect the cuts (p>0.05) where the neck and chump were 05.60±0.98 and 05.29±1.38%; rack and shoulder were 16.20±1.10 and 14.86±5.96%; lion were 4.60±l. 14 and 4.86*0.90%, hind leg were 15.60±l .14 and 16.43±1.72%. It is concluded that Nilotic male kids posses good potentials for small carcass of high dressing percentage and that feeding molasses-based diet would produce similar carcass characteristics and should be preferred over the sorghum-based diet since this would reduce man-animal competition for cereals. © Medwell Journals, 2010.