COMPENSATORY GROWTH IN SOKOTO GUDALI BULLS
COMPENSATORY GROWTH IN SOKOTO GUDALI BULLS
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Date
1997-07
Authors
OBIABO, WILSON EHOCHE
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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.
Description
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu BeLLo University,
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in Ruminant Nutrition
Department of Animal Science,
Faculty of Agriculture,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria.
JULY, 1987
Keywords
COMPENSATORY,, GROWTH,, SOKOTO GUDALI BULLS