The Relationship between age and sex of mashona cattle and their crosses in feedlot performance · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Matanda, Egnah F.

Title

The Relationship between age and sex of mashona cattle and their crosses in feedlot performance

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of induction weight, age and sex of Mashona cattle and their crosses on weight gain and carcass grade in a feedlot. The age, sex, induction weight, weight gain in the feedlot, and carcass grade of 1047 Mashona cattle that were brought in for feedloting at Koala Park Farm Abattoir was monitored for 4 months between June 2019 and September 2019. The ages of cattle at time of entry into the feedlot ranged from 11 months to 72 months of age. Three age categories were drawn with milk or 0 to 2 teeth of ages 11 months to 30 months regarded as young, 4 teeth of age group 30 months to 48 months was regarded as middle aged, while those with 6 to 8 teeth of age group 48 months to above 72 months was regarded as old. The total number of cattle in each age category were 546, 300 and 201 respectively. Generally, cattle that entered the feedlot with 0 to 4 teeth had a higher weight gain compared to those that entered the feedlot at older ages with 6 to 8 teeth (p<0.05). The ages of cattle at time of entry into the feedlot ranged from animals with milk or 0 teeth to 8 teeth. Three age categories were drawn with 0 to 2 teeth regarded as young, 4 teeth regarded as middle aged, while 6 to 8 teeth regarded as old. The total number of cattle in each age category were 546, 300 and 201 respectively to make them 1047 cattle. Generally, cattle that entered the feedlot at a younger age with 0 to 4 teeth had a higher weight gain compared to those that entered the feedlot at older ages with 6 to 8 teeth (p<0.05). The mean weight of cattle with 0 teeth 1.17±0.184 Kgs; 2 teeth 1.24±0.188 Kgs; 4 teeth with a mean of 4 teethed 1.29±0.181 Kgs; 6 teeth 1.17± 0.172 Kgs and 8 teeth 1.05± 0.139 Kgs. At entry into the feedlot, the average weight of females was 330 kg (range 135 to 456 kg), while that of males was 403 kg (range 160 to 576 kg). The sex of animal significantly affected the average daily weight gains in the feedlot. Of the 1047 animals, 756 (72%) were males and 291 (28%) were females. The sex of animal significantly affected the average daily weight gains in the feedlot. The mean weight of bulls was 114.4±15.9 Kgs; steers 120.1±3.66 Kgs; cows 71.3±5.19 Kgs and heifers 44.5±7.19 Kgs. Heifers and cows recorded lower weight gains relative to their male (bulls and steers) counterparts. The age of animal at entry into the feedlot was significantly correlated to the carcass grade attained after 3 months feedloting. The distribution of carcass grades attained were: super 846 heifers and steers (representing 81% of total animals that enter the feedlot), commercial 134 cows (13 %) and economy 67 bulls (6%). The sex of animal at entry into the feedlot was significantly correlated to the carcass grade attained after 3 months feedloting. Of the 1047 animals, 756 were males and 291were females. The distribution of carcass grades among the females were: super 157 carcasses (15% of the female population), commercial 134 carcasses (13%) and economy 0 carcasses (0%). Among the males, the distribution of carcass grades were: super 689 carcasses (66% of the male population), commercial grade 0 carcasses (0%) and economy 67 carcasses (6%). Overall, the implications of the results are discussed in the text.

Date

July 2020

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Induction weight, age and sex

feedlot

Supervisor

Dr Paul Chatikobo