Growth Performance and Economic Evaluation of Fattening Male Egyptian Buffalo Calves | ||||
Journal of Animal, Poultry & Fish Production | ||||
Article 1, Volume 6, Issue 1, December 2017, Page 1-6 PDF (205.33 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/japfp.2017.7414 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
El-Attar A.* 1; A. Badran1; A. Mahdy1; A. El-Barbary2 | ||||
1Animal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (El-Shatby), Alexandria University, (Aflaton Street, El-Shatby, Alexandria) – 22545, Egypt | ||||
2Animal and Fish Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture (El-Shatby), Alexandria University, (Aflaton Street, El-Shatby, Alexandria) – 22545, Egyp | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Data of 8235 male buffalo calves belong to a commercial farm covering the period from 2006 to 2014 were used in this study. Data were classified into 5 categories according to initial weights, 4 seasons, 9 years and 4 fattening period categories. All factors under study affected (P< 0.05) growth performance of fattening buffalo calves. Calves with initial weight 120-150 kg performed the best results as compared to other classes of initial weights. Additionally, the Autumn season had the heaviest marketing weight and the highest daily gain (454.14 ± 0.92 and 1.013 ± 0.003 kg, respectively) and the best feed conversion ratio (8.4 ± 0.10 kg DM/ kg gain). Also, the shortest fattening period (5-6 mo) showed the best fattening performance, the highest average daily gain (1.22 ± 0.007 kg /d) and the best feed conversion ratio (7.44 ± 0.19 kg DM / kg gain). In addition, average daily gain > 1 kg achieved the lowest cost of feed and total cost per kg gain (9.5 and 12.04 LE/kg gain, respectively), the best economic efficiency (1.67), the highest profit (2542.86 LE) and annual return of investment (52.99%) compared with the other average daily gain categories (< 1.00 kg). | ||||
Keywords | ||||
buffalo calves; fattening calves performance; economic efficiency | ||||
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