Authors : Mugdat Yerturk, Oktay Kaplan and Mehmet Avci
Abstract: This study was carried out to investigate fattening performance and dressing percentage of Holstein crossbred young bulls at different initial live weights in a private farm in Southeastern Anatolia region. The young bulls in the study were divided into three groups according to their initial live weights (123.70, 168.56 and 216.58 kg). Fattening periods, finishing weights, average daily weight gain and feed conversion rate for group I-III were 183.11, 176.72 and 186.25 day, 319.47, 360.68 and 419.04 kg, 1061, 1086 and 1101 g; 7.09, 8.08 and 8.73 kg, respectively. Average daily live weights gain of the groups for whole fattening periods were not significant but average fed conversions ratio of the group were found statistically significant (p<0.05). Dressings percentage of 6 animals from each group at the end of fattening were determined and were 54.40, 54.78 and 54.85% for group I-III, respectively. Group means were not significant. In conclusion, the animals with low initial live weights had a higher fattening performance because they were in the early period of growing.
Mugdat Yerturk, Oktay Kaplan and Mehmet Avci, 2011. Fattening Performance and Dressing Percentage of Holstein Crossbred Bulls at Different Initial Weights in Southeastern Anatolia Region. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 606-609.