Fattening performance of Brown Swiss x Eastern Anatolian Red (Fı) bulls kept in semi-open barn

Twenty seven bulls aged 18 months were used in this study. A concentrate diet containing 15.5 % crude protein and 2250 Kcal/kg metabolic energy was used.

İnitial average live weights of animals were 186.4 ± 3.28 kg and average fattening period was 190 days. The average final weights of bulls were 366.4±6.27 kg. Average daily live weight gains were 950 ± 0.03 g. and the average intakes of dry matter per kg of live weight gain were 9.1 ± 0.23 kg.

The average daily live weiht gains were reduced after 130 th days of feeding and feed intake was significantly increased. According to these results the duration of the fattening period can be suggested as 4.5-5 months and the final weiht of bulls should be 320 - 330 kg. Keywords : Crossbred bulls. fattening perfonnance. semi open barn