World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

SUPPLEMENTATION AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF ABERGELLE GOATS IN TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

*Meseret Redae, Tikabo Gebremariam and Teferi Aregawi

ABSTRACT

The feeding trial was conducted at Abergelle Agricultural Research Center breed evaluation and distribution site which is located in central zone of Tigray, North Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum supplementation option that can promote better animal performance and carcass parameters. Twelve yearling uncastrated male growing Abergelle goats were purchased from the local market. The average initial weight of the purchased goats was 14.2 ± 1.09 kg. Randomized complete block design was employed and goats randomly assigned to any of the three feeding options (dietary treatments). The three experimental rations were composed of different industrial by-products made as treatment one (43% wheat bran + 35% cotton seed cake + 20% molasses), treatment two (43% wheat bran + 35% noug seed cake + 20% maize grain) and treatment three (33% wheat bran + 45% dried brewery grain + 20% molasses). The supplementary feeds were formulated according to the growth requirements of the experimental animals considering their body weight. The experiment was conducted for 90 days of feeding and 14 days of adaptation trials. Grass hay and clean water was offered adlibitum to each animal. At the end of the trial, the goats were slaughtered and soon measured data on carcass parameters following appropriate procedures. The collected data were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with least significance difference mean separation. Most of the carcass parameters didn’t significantly (p > 0.05) respond to the different treatment diets. But, slaughter weight was significantly affected by the supplementation feeds with higher for goat group in treatment diet two. Hence, animal producers are advised to use supplementation option treatment two also based on the local availability of the feeds.

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