Evaluation of Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Guraghe Bulls Under Various Feeding Regimes

The experiment was conducted on yearling Guraghe bulls, with an average initial body weight of 111.91 ± 3.98 kg, to evaluate their growth performances and carcass characteristics under three different feeding options and to identify the most economical dietary rations. Twenty-one experimental bulls were randomly assigned to three dietary rations: T1 = Rhodes grass hay ad-libitum + 20% molasses + 40% wheat bran + 40% noug seed cake, T2 = Rhodes grass hay ad-libitum + 20% maize grain + 45% wheat bran + 35% noug seed cake and T3 = Rhodes grass hay ad-libitum + 65% wheat bran + 35% cotton seed cake. The bulls were acclimatized to the experimental diets for days, and the actual feeding trial lasted for 26 weeks. The animals’ weights were recorded at 14-day intervals. At the end of the 26 weeks three bulls from each treatment group were randomly selected for carcass evaluation. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in live weight parameters and carcass characteristics among the treatments. The overall means for total weight gain, average daily gain, and carcass dressing percentage were 112.86 kg, 620g/day, and 57.34%, respectively. The yearling Guraghe bulls did not reach export market weight within 26-weeks of the feeding period. Additionally, the partial budget analysis indicated that fattening yearling Guraghe bulls with the current feeding options were not profitable. This suggests that fattening Guraghe bulls with the current feeding options for twenty-six months is economically not viable. It is recommended to evaluate the growth performances of Guraghe bulls with other feeding options to achieve an export market weight of 250-300 Kg.