Effects of plane of nutrition on slaughtering traits and meat characteristics in Murrah graded male buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves in Nepal

• Published in: Animal science journal 2012-05, Vol.83 (5), p.434-438
• Main Authors: KUMAGAI, Hajime, BARAL, Bodh R, SHIINO, Tatsu, DEVKOTA, Naba R, OISHI, Kazato, HIROOKA, Hiroyuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Animal populations; Animals; Body Weight; Buffalo; buffalo calves; buffaloes; Buffaloes - physiology; calves; calving; carcass; carcass weight; crude protein; dressing percentage; fattening; feeding level; Feeds; kidneys; Male; Males; Meat; meat characteristics; meat composition; Meat quality; Nepal; Nutrition; Organ Size; plane of nutrition; rice straw; slaughter
• ISSN: 1344-3941; 1740-0929
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2011.00970.x

An experiment was conducted using 17 male buffalo calves to assess the effects of plane of nutrition on slaughtering traits and meat characteristics. To attain 250 kg body weight (BW), the calves were allocated into three groups: high (H), low‐high (L‐H) and low (L) corresponding to concentrate levels receiving the concentrate at 1.50% of BW, 0.75% of BW until 190 kg BW and 1.50% thereafter, and 0.75% of BW, respectively. The animals had ad libitum access to urea‐treated rice straw. No significant differences of hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and lean fat–bone yields were observed among the treatment groups. The L group had heavier brisket weight and lower percentage of round weight in the hot carcass than the H and L‐H groups (P