Comparison of fattening performance in Brahman grade cattle (Bos indicus) and crossbred water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) fed on high roughage diet

Issue Date

2-2008

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the fattening performance in Brahman grade cattle (crossbred cattle) and crossbred water buffalo at the same young age and fed with high roughage based fattening rations in the Philippines. Ten crossbred cattle and 10 crossbred water buffalo, aged between 18 and 24 months old were used in this experiment. The animals were fed diets consisting of 85% Napier or Para grass and 15% concentrate mixture (CM) on a dry matter (DM) basis. The grass, total DM intake and bodyweight gain were significantly (P < 0.01) higher for the crossbred water buffalo than for the cattle. There was no species significant difference in the digestion coefficient and feed conversion rate between the crossbred cattle and water buffalo. The return over feed cost for fattening was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the crossbred water buffalo than in the cattle. These results clearly indicate that under high roughage-based fattening rations, young crossbred water buffalo are better able to utilize the roughage and they perform better in terms of feed intake and live weight gains than the crossbred cattle in the Philippines. © 2008 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2008 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Source or Periodical Title

Animal Science Journal

ISSN

13443941

Volume

79

Issue

1

Page

76-82

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Subject

Crossbred cattle, Crossbred water buffalo, Fattening performance, Feed intake, High roughage ration

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-0929.2007.00500.x

Digital Copy

YES

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