Specifications of calves sacrifices and their effect on breed and nutrition

Abstract

Twenty one Sharabi and twenty one Friesian calves (10-12 months of age; 170 kg average weight) were randomly divided into seven groups each. Seven ration treatments having 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30% of reed straw were randomly assigned to the groups. All the calves were slaughtered at the end of the 12-weeks experimental period. Friesian calves had higher values for most of the traits except for average Dressing out percentage, Fat thickness, Major cuts percentage, Minor cuts percentage and Internal fat percentage. These differences were not significant (P<0.05), except for Fat thichness and Edible parts percentages. Different levels of reed straw in experimental rations had no significant effect on carcass characteristics.