Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Tanzanian goats fed Chloris gayana hay with different levels of protein supplement

Twenty-four growing indigenous Tanzanian male goats were studied in a completely randomized design experiment with four treatment groups for growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing percentage and carcass composition. The four groups of goats were fed hay ad libitum (A) and hay ad libitum with 200 g/day of concentrate supplement containing 102, 150 or 177 g CP/kg DM (B, C, and D). Protein (CP) supplementation resulted in increased total dry matter intake and decreased feed conversion ratio. Compared with the control group (A), animals on treatment D had the highest growth rate (62.51 +_8.01 vs. 22.61+_ 10.91 g/day) and a superior feed conversion ratio (8.81+_1.30 vs. 22.81+_ 11.65 g DM intake / g gain). Daily crude protein and digestible energy intake increased with higher protein levels. Supplemented goats had significantly higher dressing percentage and fat depot percentages in kidney and gut. Lean meat percentages were 62.6±2.50, 64.2±0.89, 60.9±3.44 and 63.3±1.90 for treatments A, B, C and D, respectively. Control goats had significantly lower proportions of fat and higher proportions of bone. There was little indication that protein level in supplements affected the composition of carcasses

Lablab (Dolichos lablab) meal as protein supplement for weaned fattening lambs

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of inclusion of Lablab meal on growth rate, feed intake and carcass composition of Black Head Persian (BHP) lambs. Twenty-four BHP castrate sheep with average weight of 14.1 +2.7 kg were allotted randomly to four dietary treatments. Lambs were individually maintained in metabolic crates. All animals were offered hay ad libitum. Lambs on control treatment (A) were given in addition 380 g of maize bran per day. Animals on treatments B. C, and D were given daily 380 g of concentrate based on maize bran with 25,50 and 75% lablab meal, respectively.Growth rate, dry-matter intake and feed conversion ratio were 34,66, 68, 71 g/day; 58.7,69.5, 74.0 g/kgW0.75/day and 15.2,11.3,9.3,9.1 g/DMI/g gain, respectively, of treatments A, B. C and D. The level of inclusion of lablab meal had no significant (P>0.05) effect on killing-out characteristics. Hot carcass weight as percentages of slaughter weight and empty body weight were 41.3,41.0,40.5,42.5 and 52.0,52.3,53.5, respectively, for animals on treatments A, B. C and D. Carcass composition expressed as percentage of carcass weight showed no significant treatment effects and value of 60.91, 61.29, 61.11 and 62.97% for carcass lean, 19.06,20.24, 18.42 and 17.54% carcass fat and 17.86,16.70,17.91 and 16.67% for carcass bone were obtained for treatments A, B. C and D. It is concluded that inclusion of lablab meal in maize bran above 25% has no beneficial effect in terms of growth rate and carcass composition

Growth rate, feed intake and feed utilization of Small East African goats supplemented with Leucaena leucocephala

Growth and digestibility studies were conducted with grazing indigenous Tanzanian goats on different levels of supplementation of Leucaena leucocephala. Four treatments were hay only (H), hay and 100 g leucaena (HL1), hay and 200 g leucaena (HL2) and hay plus leucaena ad libitum (HL3) in the growth study; and hay only (H), hay and 100g leucaena (HL1), hay and 200g leucaena (HL2) and leucaena only (L) in the digestibility study. Supplemented goats had higher growth rate (

Studies on factors affecting reproductive performance and mortality of Small East African goats and their crosses

This study compares genetic and non-genetic factors affecting the reproductive performance and mortality rates of Kamorai x Small East African (SEA), Boer x SEA and SEA goats using records kept at the Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania, between 1972 and 1989.Age at first kidding and kidding interval ranged from 638 to 984 days and 293 to 419 days, respectively. Age at first kidding was significantly (P<0.001) influenced by period of kidding. Period of kidding and season of previous kidding affected kidding interval significantly (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively).Overall average mortality rate was 40.6% and 25.7% for preweaning and postweaning periods, respectively. Animals with birth weights of less than 1.5 kg had the highest preweaning mortality rate (57.9%). The lowest preweaning mortality rate occurred in animals with a birth weight of greater than 2.6 kg (29.8 %). Twins exhibited a higher preweaning mortality rate than singles (48.3% vs 38.5%). Preweaning mortality was lower in period I (1972-1974) than in later years.Non-genetic factors, especially period and season of kidding, were the main sources of variation in reproductive performance and mortality rate. Crossing SEA goats with Kamorai and Boer showed little improvement in these factors. Poor feeding management and disease control probably prevented the crosses from expressing their genetic potential

Effect of breed and nutrition on performance of sheep in Tanzania

Limiting factors in sheep production in Tanzania are discussed. Due to lack of quantitative data effects of diseases and other factors, the paper partly attempts to quantify the performance of two breeds of sheep (Black Head Persian-BHP and Red Maasai-RM) under one government farm. Statistical comparison between these two breeds is presented on birth weight, weaning weight, mating weight and slaughter weight. Statistical comparison within these parameters is also discussed. The paper also discussed the performance of BHP and RM under controlled experimentation at the University Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Science, Morogoro. Lambs at weaning were subjected to three treatments (grazing only S0; grazing with 100g concentrate supplementation per day- S1; and grazing with 500g concentrates supplementation per day- S2) for 5 months. Irrespective of level of supplementation BHP grew faster (84±10.6 g/day) than RM (59±7.3g/day). Body condition score and carcass weight were significantly higher in BHP than in RM; (3.1±1.14 and 12.22±1.364 kg for BHP and 2.4±0.96 and 8.47±1.48 kg for RM respectively. Generally, BHP tended to dress out higher (44.3±2.34%) than RM (42.9±4.95%) although the difference was not significantly significant. Supplementation improved liveweight gain significantly. Overall growth rates of lambs under S0, S1 and S2 treatments were 44±3.9, 61±8.8, and 109±11.6g respectively. Supplementation also improved the body condition score and dressing out percentage. The mean body condition scores and dressing out percentages were 1.7±0.61, 2.7±0.45, 3.9 ±0.76 and 39.1±9.33%, 42.1±2.05% and 49.6±2.43% respectively for S0, S1 and S2. The imporatnace of the results with emphasis on economics of supplementation is discussed

Effect of level of inclusion of lablab meal in diet on carcass characteristic of Blackhead Persian Sheep

Tanzania Journal of Agriculture Sciences 1998, Vol. 1(2); pp149-156Twenty four Black Head Persian (BHP) castrate lambs weighing 14.1 ± 2.7 kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments . Animals on treatment A (control) were fed Rhodes (Chloris gayana) hay, ad libitum as basal diet, plus 3BO-g maize bran daily. Animals on treatments B, C and D were fed 'basal diet plus 3BO g of "maize bran and lablab meal" mixture at a ratio of 2.B:1, 0.9:1 and 0.27:1, respectively daily. Four animals from each treatment were selected for slaughter at the end of 99th day of feeding. The level of inclusion of lablab in the lambs' diet had no significant effect on all killing-out characteristics. However, the increase in dietary lablab level in supplement increased the hot carcass weight (HCW) and empty body weight (EBW). The mean HCWfortreatmentsA, B, C, andD were B.O, B.B, 9.2 and 9. 7 kg, respectively, while the respective mean EBWs were 15.3, 16.9, 17.B and 1B.2 kg. Dressing percentage showed no definite pattern. Regression of HCW on EBW and on slaughter weight showed high correlation coefficients (r = 0.91 and r = 0.90, respectively). Lean tissue weight increased with increasing lablab level in the supplement diet, while fat tissue decreased with increased dietary lablab levels (P < 0.10). Differences among treatments in carcass fat were however small and statistically non-significant. Although bone tissue did not show any defined trend, animals on treatment Chad heavier (B30 vs 716 g) carcass bone than animals on treatment A (P< 0.10). Expr,essed as percentages of the carcass, the weights of lean, fat and bone showed no significant treatment effects. However, the trend was an increase in percentage of lean tissue and a decrease in percentage offat tissue with increasing level of lablab in the supplement diet (60.9,51.3, 61.1 and 63% lean and 19.1,20.2, 1B.4and 17.5%fat,for treatments A, B, C and D, respectively)

Mineral status of soils and forages and effect of mineral supplementation on performance of lambs

A 148 days study was conducted at Morogoro to evaluate the mineral status of Blackhead Persian (BHP) lambs and their response to mineral supplementation under grazing conditions. Soil, forages and blood plasma were analysed monthly for Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Cu, Fe and Zn. Also pH in soil and CP in forages were determined. Soil P, Cu and Zn, and forage CP, P, Na and Zn were in marginal levels to recommended requirements of lambs. Blood plasma P and Zn on the other hand were relatively high contrary to the low levels found in forages. Sex and mineral treatments did not have significant effect on blood plasm mineral composition. Mineral supplemented groups showed significant difference in final weight (P < 0.05), and daily gain (P < 0.01). Similarly, castrates were superior in final weight (P < 0.01) and daily gain (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in carcass weight and composition due to treatments

Effect of level of inclusion of lablab meal in diet on carcass characteristic of Blackhead Persian Sheep

Tanzania Journal of Agriculture Sciences 1998, Vol. 1(2); pp149-156Twenty four Black Head Persian (BHP) castrate lambs weighing 14.1 ± 2.7 kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments . Animals on treatment A (control) were fed Rhodes (Chloris gayana) hay, ad libitum as basal diet, plus 3BO-g maize bran daily. Animals on treatments B, C and D were fed 'basal diet plus 3BO g of "maize bran and lablab meal" mixture at a ratio of 2.B:1, 0.9:1 and 0.27:1, respectively daily. Four animals from each treatment were selected for slaughter at the end of 99th day of feeding. The level of inclusion of lablab in the lambs' diet had no significant effect on all killing-out characteristics. However, the increase in dietary lablab level in supplement increased the hot carcass weight (HCW) and empty body weight (EBW). The mean HCWfortreatmentsA, B, C, andD were B.O, B.B, 9.2 and 9. 7 kg, respectively, while the respective mean EBWs were 15.3, 16.9, 17.B and 1B.2 kg. Dressing percentage showed no definite pattern. Regression of HCW on EBW and on slaughter weight showed high correlation coefficients (r = 0.91 and r = 0.90, respectively). Lean tissue weight increased with increasing lablab level in the supplement diet, while fat tissue decreased with increased dietary lablab levels (P < 0.10). Differences among treatments in carcass fat were however small and statistically non-significant. Although bone tissue did not show any defined trend, animals on treatment Chad heavier (B30 vs 716 g) carcass bone than animals on treatment A (P< 0.10). Expr,essed as percentages of the carcass, the weights of lean, fat and bone showed no significant treatment effects. However, the trend was an increase in percentage of lean tissue and a decrease in percentage offat tissue with increasing level of lablab in the supplement diet (60.9,51.3, 61.1 and 63% lean and 19.1,20.2, 1B.4and 17.5%fat,for treatments A, B, C and D, respectively)

Growth and reproduction performance of Blackhead Persian sheep in Tanzania

Data collected at the livestock research centres, Malya and West Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, to determine the effects of genotype and environment on birth weight, weaning weight and weight at 24, 48, and 72 weeks of age were analysed. Records on the birth weight (n = 6207), weaning weight (n = 4444), weights at 24 weeks (n = 3494), 48 weeks (n = 2633) and 72 weeks of age (n = 1874) were evaluated for fixed effects: year of birth, season of birth, sex, birth type, age of dam and location of differences. The overall unadjusted mean weight at birth and weaning were 2.68 and 15.15 kg, respectively. The mean weights at 24, 48 and 72 weeks of age were 18.19, 22.93 and 33.24 kg respectively. Year had significant effect on birth weight, weaning weight and weights at 24, 48 and 72 weeks of age. Season also significantly influenced all weights except for birth weight and weight at 24 weeks of age. Birth type had significant effect on birth weight (

Developmental changes of fat depots-in male Saanen goats

Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2005, Vol.6(2) : 99-103Thirty-four male British Saanen goats were reared on milk substitutes from birth to weaning at 35 days and then given barley-based concentrate diet ad libitum. They were slaughtered serially at birth (3.5 kg), weaning (9.5 kg), 24.5,36.5, 48.5 and 72.5 kg live weights. Weights of fat depots were recorded. With the exception of channel fat, all fat depots increased significantly (P< 0.001) with increasing slaughter weight. Fat growth coeffients were greater than 1 (P<0.001) and was highest for subcutaneous fat (1.887), followed by gut fat (1.802), dissected fat I. 687), inter-muscular fat I.6I9) and lowest for channel fat I.I27). Relative to total fat, the greatest change in proportion of fat occurred between birth and 24.5 kg of live, weight. There were little consistent changes in proportion of subcutaneous fat relative to change in lotal body fa