Authors : Durhasan Mundan, Salih Gogebakan, Cansu Ergun and I. Halil Kaban
Abstract: This study was done in order to analyze the fattening performance of Holstein cattle which are under Summer season conditions in the district of Silifke of Mersin province. A total of 56 head Holstein cattle which are in commercial cattle fattening enterprise doing intensive production were fattened by dividing them into lighter (G-I) and heavier (G-II) according to weights of per feeding. Initial weight, average daily live weight gain, finishing weight, live weights gain and feed conversion rate for G-I and G-II were 99.03±2.32 and 205.27±5.15, 1.081±0.04 and 1.108±0.04 g, 293.68±5.74 and 404.64±6.95 and 194.65,199.37 kg and 6.8 and 7.1%, respectively. The cattles were put into the enterprise in April, 2010. Both groups separated from the enterprise at the end of the 180 days fattening. Independent t-test was used in order to determine whether there was a differentiation between groups. Differences between groups in terms of initial weight and finishing weight were significant (p<0.001). Differences between the groups in terms of the average Daily Live Weight Gain (DLWG) and Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) were not significant statistically (p>0.01). As a result, it was found that initial weight in the daily live weight gain of Holstein cattle in Summer season conditions in the district of Silifke of Mersin province was not important also it was found that cattle were affected by the temperature and humidity, cattle fattening performance was subnormal and the performance could be increased by shower and fan application.
Durhasan Mundan, Salih Gogebakan, Cansu Ergun and I. Halil Kaban, 2012. Evaluation of Fattening Performance of Holstein Cattle at Different Initial Weights Under Summer Season Conditions in the District of Silifke of Mersin Province. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 186-190.