Growth and carcass production of Ongole grade cattle and Simmental Ongole crossbred cattle growing in a feedlot system

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the growth and carcass production of Ongole grade cattle (PO) and Simmental Ongole (SimPO) crossbred cattle growing in a feedlot system. Six ongole grade cattle and six Simmental Ongole crossbred cattle with the respective initial body weight of PO 315,6 ± 39,46 and SimPO 368,3 ± 17,81,were grown for 3 months and were fed with concentrates, elephant grass, soybean and cassava. At the end of the experiment all cattle were slaughtered. The observed variables included feed consumption and digestibility, daily body weight gain, feed conversion, feed cost per gain, and blood urea and glucose levels, carcass cuts weight, carcass yield, carcass percentage, carcass component and meat-bone ratio. The collected data were analyzed using T-test. The treatments significantly affect the carcass weight and carcass percentage
(P< 0,05), but the treatment had no significant effect (P> 0.05) on feed consumption, feed digestibility, daily body weight gain, feed conversion, feed cost per gain, carcass component and meat-bone ratio. In conclusion, the Simmental ongole crossbred had higher carcass weight and carcass percentage and feed cost per gain more efficient when compared with Ongole grade cattle.