COMPENSATORY GROWTH IN SOKOTO GUDALI BULLS

COMPENSATORY GROWTH IN SOKOTO GUDALI BULLS

Abstract:

Forty-eight Sokoto Gudali bulls belonging to two age groups were used to study compensatory growth. The animals were fed either low (L), moderate (M) or high (H) plane of nutrition during three periods. The feeding periods were arranged to give LLH, LMH and LHH feeding regimes. Feed intake, growth, physiological parameters and body compositional changes were measured at various stages of the trial. Daily Liveweight gains during the full feeding period averaged 0.53, 0.67 and 0.79 kg/day respectively for animals on LHH, LMH and LLH feeding regimes and were significantly higher in LLH and LMH animals than in LHH controls. Animals on LLH and LMH feeding regimes were more efficient In converting dry matter Into empty body weight gain than the bulls on LHH feeding regime. Serum thyroxine feveLs showed no significant differences between feeding regimes during both feed restriction and. full feeding periods. Younger bulls had significantly higher serum thyroxine values than the older bulls at alL stages of trial. Plasma urea nitrogen levels were significantly lower in LLH and LMH bulls during feed restriction and during the first part of the full feeding period, but similar to the level of LHH controls during the last part of the full feeding period. At final slaughter dressing percentage was significantLy lower in LLH (50.1%) and LMH (49.5%) than in LHH (52.8%) bulls. Carcass lean were 68.9, 69.3 and 67.7% respectively for LLH, LMH and LHH and were significantly higher in favour of LLH and LMH animals. The control LHH bulls had significantly higher fat percentages but lower bone percentages than LLH and LMH bulls. Animals on LHH feeding regime were more efficient in converting ML to carcass energy gain than LLH and LMH animals at the end of the full feeding period. Digestible crude protein efficiencies for carcass protein gain were 17.55, 26.19 and 35.39g DCP/g protein gain, respectively for LLH, LMH and LHH bulls. It was concluded that increased efficiency of protein utilization during the first half of full feeding was Largely responsible for compensatory growth response in Sokoto Gudali bulls.

COMPENSATORY GROWTH IN SOKOTO GUDALI BULLS