Non-genetic factors affecting growth performance and carcass characteristics of two South African pig breeds

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of non-genetic factors on growth performance of Indigenous chicken under village condition of Bangladesh. A total of 1070 eggs from Indigenous chicken were set and 628 chicks were hatched. Data were recorded on hatching performance and body weight of chicks from week 1 (BWWK1) to week 15 (BWWK15). The non-genetic factors considered were sex, batch, farm, brooding system and feeding system. Least squares means for fertility (%), hatchability (%) and mortality on hatching day (%) of eggs were 70.81, 77.52, and 19.63, respectively. Body weight of male and female birds at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th,11th, 13th and 15th weeks of age were 45.97 and 38.44 g, 129.36 and 104.94 g, 266.82 and 213.92 g, 453.93 and 390.72 g, 470.58 and 394.75 g, 614.60 and 489.48 g, 693.72 and 462.77 g, 833.94 and 650.77 g, respectively. Artificially hatched birds gained better body weight than the naturally hatched birds up to 11 weeks of age. The coal brooding system was superior to electric and natural brooding. Hand mixed feed gave better growth of birds than commercial feed and scavenging feed resources. Better growth of birds in farm 2 was observed suggesting replication of management system of farm 2 to get better growth. Further, batch, farm, brooding system and feeding system were found to contribute significant (p<0.05) differences in the body weight at various weeks of their age. These results indicated due adjustment of non-genetic management systems for obtaining better growth performance of Indigenous chicken to enhance commercialization of the indigenous chicken flocks in rural areas of the country.

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Effects of non-steroidal growth implant and dietary zilpaterol hydrochloride on growth and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs

South African Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4314/sajas.v48i4.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 601-608

Author(s):

E.C. Webb ◽

J Allen ◽

S.D. Morris

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

South African ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Control Group ◽

Feed Supplementation ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Zilpaterol Hydrochloride ◽

Growth Implant

The effects of steroidal growth implants alone or in combination with β-adrenergic agonist feed additives have not been studied thoroughly in mutton sheep in South African feedlot conditions. This study investigated the effects of a non-steroidal growth implant zeranol (Ralgro®), alone or in combination with zilpaterol hydrochloride (Zilmax®), on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and selected meat quality traits in 160 SA Mutton Merino ram lambs fed in a commercial feedlot. The experimental design consisted of two Ralgro treatment groups x two Zilmax treatments x two Zilmax feeding periods x 20 animals per treatment group. Lambs were randomly allocated to eight treatment groups, of which one half were implanted with Ralgro after arrival, followed by feed supplementation with Zilmax at two Zilmax feeding periods during the finisher phase, compared with negative control treatments (e.g. no Ralgro or Zilmax; Ralgro + no Zilmax; or no Ralgro + Zilmax). All lambs were fed the grower ration traditionally used by the commercial feedlot, which contained 16.89% crude protein (CP) and 2.94 Mcal/kg dry matter (DM). Zilmax was supplemented in the feed at 40 mg per animal per day and fed for 18 days or 25 days, plus three days withdrawal. Lambs that did not receive the Zilmax treatment were fed the basal diet without Zilmax feed supplementation. Ralgro significantly increased average daily gains (ADG) and cold carcass mass (CCM) of lambs. Lambs supplemented with Zilmax during the finisher phase had higher ADG, greater CCM and increased dressing percentage by ca.1.1% compared with those in the control group. Lambs fed Zilmax for 25 days had higher CCM than those fed for 18 days. The duration of the Zilmax treatment also decreased hide weight, fat thickness and shear force values (tenderness). Zilmax increased ADG and CCM in lambs, particularly if combined with Ralgro implants during the growing phase. The results from this study indicate that the combination of Ralgro implants with Zilmax feed supplementation during the finisher phase had additive effects and increased ADG and CCM of feedlot lambs.Keywords: Growth performance, meat quality, South African Mutton Merino, sheep, Ralgro®, Zilmax®

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Growth performance and carcass characteristics of south african mutton merino fed diets with different levels of macadamia oil cake or baobab seed cake

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-1016 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Masiza Samuel Mikasi ◽

Joseph Jimu Baloyi ◽

Everson Bhebe

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

South African ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Seed Cake ◽

Total Weight Gain ◽

Inclusion Level ◽

Daily Gain

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing 10% or 15% of baobab seed cake (BSC) or macadamia oil cake (MOC) in fattening diets for lambs on feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics. Thirty-two lambs aged between 150 and 180 days were randomly allocated to 4 diets (10% MOC; 15% MOC; 10% BSC and 15% BSC diets) in an experiment arranged as a 2x2 factorial design and sex as a block. The results showed that there were significant protein source and inclusion level interactions on average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and total weight gain, warm and cold carcass mass. Males were significantly superior in all parameters except for feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage and rib-eye area. It was concluded that 10% MOC and 15% BSC can be incorporated in diets for fattening of growing South African Mutton Merino lambs without compromising on their growth performance and carcass characteristics.

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