Authors : Abdulkadir Ozluturk , Olcay Guler , Mete Yanar , Omer Akbulut , Necdet Unlu , Sinan Kopuzlu and Ozmen Biberoglu
Abstract: The effects of two different initial ages of fattening on the weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency characteristics as well as carcass and non-carcass components of the native Eastern Anatolian Red cattle raised in Eastern region of Turkey were studied in this research. According to the age at the beginning of the fattening, 61 EAR male cattle was allocated into two age treatment groups named as group I (9-14 months of ages) and group II (17-22 months of ages). Total weight gain throughout the fattening was numerically greater in younger group compared with the elderly group, however, the difference was not statistically significant. Total dry alfalfa hay and concentrate intake as dry matter did not differ significantly between age groups. However, feed efficiency ratios were significantly (p<0.01) influenced by initial age of the fattening in favour of younger EAR cattle. Carcass cutability and yield grade values of the EAR cattle in group I did not differ significantly from those in group II. Overall results of the study revealed that as initial age of the fattening lowers, fattening performance and feed efficiency ratio of EAR male cattle improved, but, carcass quality traits were not adversely influenced.
Abdulkadir Ozluturk , Olcay Guler , Mete Yanar , Omer Akbulut , Necdet Unlu , Sinan Kopuzlu and Ozmen Biberoglu , 2006. The Effect of Initial Age of Fattening on the Fattening Performance and Carcass Traits of Eastern Anatolian Red Cattle Reared in Eastern Turkey. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 566-569.