The effects of season on fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics and feeding cost of Holstein bulls
2 Prof. Dr., Kocatepe Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, AFYON - The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the season on the fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics and feeding cost of Holstein bulls under Central Anatolian conditions.
During the study, 27 animals at an average age of 6.5 months were used in 4 groups. Each animal was slaughtered when it reached a Iiveweight of 450 kg in an enelosed barn. Each fattening period was started at the first month on seasons, Summer (June), Autumn (September), Winter (December) and Spring (March).
The initial average liveweights of groups were 197.2, 208.5, 212.7 and 172.1 kg and the average fattening periods were 226.0, 225.7, 228.6 and 207.7 days respectively. The average daily gains and feed efficiencies were determined as 1.133, 7.086; 1.067, 7.379; 1.049, 7.737 and 1.352 kg, 5.857 kg respectively. The dressing percentage of hot carcass were 56.5, 57.0, 54.5 and 54.5 % and MLD area per 100 kg carcass weight were 21.3, 22.0, 21.6 and 24.9 cm2.
According to the results, the spring group was the most efficient and economical one in terms of fattening performance and it was followed by the Summer, Autumn and Winter groups in order.
Keywords : Holstein bull, fattening performance, season, temperature, slaughter and carcass characteristics, gross margine