Fattening performances for three age groups (G1=12-24, G2=25-36 and G3=37-48 months) were compared under the same feeding management to recommend the best possible age of culling of Horro Friesian crossbred bulls to boost the benefits of dairy farmers. The study was conducted for a finishing period of 90 days using the recommended level of concentrate supplementation of 3.5 kg/head/day for finishing Horro-Friesian crossbred bulls. The bulls were fed on Rhodes grass hay under zero grazing system in individual feeding pen. Economic analysis was also made considering the current prices of concentrate ingredients and estimated prices of the bulls. Though the total weight gain (85.95.91 kg) and average daily weight gain (999.40.07 g) were higher for the older age groups than the medium (78.35.91 kg and 921.10.07 g) and younger (81.25.91 kg and 954.70.07 g) groups respectively, the differences were not significant (p>0.05). The economic analysis also showed non significant differences between the three age groups. Therefore, it is apparent from the study that finishing of the crossbred bulls at early age is advantageous before incurring extra cost in keeping undesirable bulls in the herd. It is also suggested that these excess dairy bulls should be finished before disposal to boost the benefit of dairy farmers from dairy enterprise.

Merera, C., Abebe, G., Sebsibe, A. and Goetsch, A.L. 2010. Effects and interactions of origin of sheep in Ethiopia (Highland us Lowland areas), feeding and lengths of rest and feeding on harvest measures. J.Appl. Anim. Res., 37: 33-42.Yearling sheep from Highland (Arsi-Bale, H) and Lowland (Black Head Ogaden, L) areas of Ethiopia were used to determine effects and interactions of animal origin, feeding and lengths of rest and feeding on ha,rvest measures. Ten sheep of each origin were rested for 1, 2 or 3 d after arrival at the abattoir and before slaughter with ad libitum availability of grass hay and water and a n overnight fa,st preceding slaughter.Eighteen to 20 sheep of each origin were fed for 2, 4 or 6 weeks in length with ad libitum grass hay and a concentrate supplement at 220 g / d a y per animal, There was a n interaction (Pc0.05) between origin and the linear effect of feeding period length in average daily gain, with a much greater value for H-F2 compared with other treatments (209, 120, 125, 118, 90 and 113g/day for H-F2, H-F4, H-F6, L-F2, L-F4 and L-F6, respectively). Hot ca.rcass weight increased linearly with increasing length of rest (P<0.05), with a tendency (P

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing Leucaena pallida in reducing gastrointestinal parasite load and to evaluate growth response of Horro ewe lambs to supplementation and antihelmentic treatment. A total of 32 Horro ewe lambs were randomly assigned to four treatments: Grazing, grazing + antihelmintics only, grazing + 500 g dried Leucaena pallida leaves + 200 g ground maize grain per head/day, and grazing + 200 g noug cake + 200 g ground maize grain per head/day with eight replicates. Feeding L. pallida leaves increased (P < 0.05) growth rates and reduced (P < 0.05) nematode parasite egg counts (Eggs per gram of faeces (EPG)) compared with un-supplemented Horro ewe lambs. Packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in Horro ewe lambs supplemented with L. pallida and concentrate and treated with antihelmentic compared to the animals assigned to grazing alone. The results revealed that supplementation of L. pallida with concentrate have beneficial anti-parasitic properties and improved the growth performance of Horro ewe lambs.

This study was conducted to evaluate and determine the carcass pH and color of Horro rams under different management practices at Ambo University. A total of 24 Horro rams were randomly assigned to the following three treatments: T1 (Day 1 rest before slaughter), T2 (Rhodes hay ad libitum) and T3 (Rhodes hay ad libitum + 400 g concentrate per head/day). Carcass pH was determined at 15 min, 24, 48, and 72 h post slaughter using pH Meter. Data were analyzed using the General linear model procedures of Statistical Analysis System Software 9.2 (SAS, 2009). The ultimate carcass pH of concentrate supplemented Horro rams (pH24 = 5.67) was lower (P < 0.001) than rams fed on Rhodes hay ad libitum and animals slaughtered immediately after day 1 rest of transportation to experimental site (5.88, and 5.87, respectively). The majority of sensory panelists (> 62%) reported that carcass color was bright red for supplemented Horro rams and red color for those fed on Rhodes hay ad libitum and slaughtered immediately after one day rest of transportation. Carcass darkness/discoloration was not observed up to four days post slaughter from values of carcass pH, color estimation of this experiment and from comparisons of carcass pH measures with values in the literatures. Concentrate supplementation had significant and positive influence on carcasses pH and color of Horro rams. This study disproved the dispute or claim about the problem of early darkening of carcasses of highland animals. Thus, management practices like optimum feeding along sufficient rest after transportation would improve the carcass pH and color.

The effect of level of supplemental protein on intake of wheat straw by yearling meat goats drinking saline water was determined. Eighteen Boer and 18 Spanish wethers (initial BW 37.5±0.97 and 34.0±0.41 kg, respectively) consumed straw ad libitum supplemented with soybean meal DM at 0.14 or 0.28% BW (LP and HP, respectively) during 2 4-wk phases. Phase-1 water treatments were fresh water [FW; 233 ppm total dissolved salts (TDS)] and FW with 10,000 and 15,000 ppm TDS added via NaCl (MS and HS, respectively). The added TDS level for HS was 20,000 ppm in phase 2. In the preceding 8 wk, MS- and HS-wethers consumed water with 5,000 and 10,000 ppm TDS, respectively. There were no interactions between supplement and water treatments in water or DMI in the last 2 wk of phases. In phase 1, water intake varied among water treatments (1,075, 1,080, and 1,362 g/d; SEM=74.9) but was not influenced by supplement treatment (1,150 and 1,195 g/d; SEM=61.1), and DMI was similar for both water (603, 598, and 640 g/d for FW, MS, and HS, respectively; SEM=30.0) and supplement treatments (627 and 600 g/d for LP and HP, respectively; SEM=24.5). In phase 2, there was a breed×water treatment interaction (P = 0.039) in water intake (1,038, 1,178, and 1,907 for Boer and 744, 1,029, and 1,340 g/d for Spanish consuming FW, MS, and HS, respectively; SEM=77.7). However, straw intake was not influenced by water (717, 736, and 759 g/d for FW, MS, and HS, respectively; SEM=36.4) or supplement treatment (732 and 743 g/d for LP and HP, respectively; SEM=29.7). In conclusion, with relatively high levels of TDS in drinking water achieved by NaCl addition, a high level of supplemental protein did not enhance intake of wheat straw. However, future research should address other types of saline water.