Evaluation of different feeding options on growth response and carcass characteristic of yearling Kereyu-Bulls to attain local/export market weight

The study was conducted at Adami Tulu agricultural research center on growth performance and carcass characteristics evaluation of one year old 24 Kereyu bulls. The objectives of the fattening trial were: to evaluate different feeds options on one year aged Kereyu bulls for them to attain 300kg export market weight gain, to evaluate the carcass characteristics of the animals under fattening and to identify the most economical feeding options to obtain the targeted export market weight gain. Three feedingtreatments ( T1=Rhodes hay +20% molasses+ 40% wheat bran+ 40% Noug cake, T2 = Rhodes hay +20% maize grain+45% wheat bran+35% Noug cake and T3= Rhodes hay + 65% wheat bran+ 35% cotton seed cakes) were evaluated. Complete Randomized Block Design was implemented to assign nine Kereyu bulls to the three treatments. All the experimental bulls were supplemented with their respective feed rations at 2.5% of their body weight per day during the whole experimental period. The result of the fattening trials revealed that there is no signifi cant difference in daily weight gain, total weight gain, fi nal body weight and carcass characteristic of bulls received the three dietary feeds for 179 fattening days.