Performance and some carcass characteristies of Sudan Baggara bulls fed sugar cane tops and sorghum straw as roughage source

Abstract

Feedlot performance and carcass traits of 24 intact local bulls was 
conducted to compare sugur cane tops with sorghum straw as main 
roughage source used for cattle fattening at livestock fattening and meat 
production department of Animal Production Research Centre-Sudan. Bulls 
in each group (12 bulls) were fed molasses based diet Sugarcane tops or 
sorghum straw was given ad libtium. Animals were slaughtered at a target 
period of 78 days. The eflect of roughage source on live weight, live weight 
gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency was not significant 
(P>0.05). Bulls fed sorghum straw showed a significantly (P<0.001) higher 
daily roughages intake. Using sugar cane tops lowered (P<0.001) the total 
feed cost There were no significant differences (P>0.05) on slaughter 
weight, empty body weight, hot carcass weight, chilled carcass weight, 
chiller shrinkage percent. all dressing out percentages, gut fills percentage 
and longissimus dorsi muscle area. Bulls fed on sorghum straw showed 
higher slaughter weight (247.92 19.64 Vs. 244.17 t 14.90 kg). The study 
revealed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in all parameters concerning 
carcass and noncarcass components except omentum and kidney fats. The 
fed sorghum straw had significantly (P<0.05)  
higher omentum fat (1.78 Vs 1.56 kg) but lower (P<0.05) kidney fat (0.67 Vs 
0.79 kg) than the group fed sugar cane tops. The study concluded that 
feeding sugar cane tops revealed the same results in feedlot performance 
and carcass yield for Baggara bulls, but it lowered the feed cost so it is 
highly recommended to use such a source of roughage in cattle fattening 
feedlot.