Profitability of Baladi calf feedlots under different fattening systems [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Forty Baladi male calves with body weight of225 - 275 kg were used to study the growth traits and profitability of two fattening systems through two experiments. The aim of the 1$/ was to study the effect of initial body weight (BW) on feedlot profitability while the aim of the 2nd was to study the effect of final BW on the same traits of the 1$/ experiment. Calves were divided irate two groups (G) based on their initial BW.Gl (n=18) had BW of240.7± 1.7 kg, which was lighter (P<0.0001) than G2 (G2, n=22; 260.5± 1.5 leg) in both groups calves were fed to a final weight of 400 kg and those did not reach this weight were allowed to grow for a maximum fattening period of 6 months in Gl and 5 months for G2. Growth traits were measured in terms of average daily gain (ADG) and fattening period while benefit/cost ratio and net return ("A) were calculated as economic ones. After the end of experiment 1.18 calves were chosen randomly to grow up to 415 - 425 kg (C2) to be compared with the profitability of feedlot that marketing their calves at 400 kg (CI). Calves were fed based on their body weight on concentrate feed mixture rice straw and green maize fodder while kept tied under shed on a semi-open yard. Animals were weighed once monthly during the experimental period to monitor the changes in B W throughout the fattening period. In the first experiment of studying the effect of initial BW the overall means of final BW and ADG were 391.6 ± 2.7 and 0.90 ± 0.02 kg, respectively with no difference between GI and G2. This however fattening period was shorter (P<0.0001) in G2 by about 17 days. Overall means of gross margin benefit / cost ratio and net return head/cycle were LE 525.3 ± 26.1. 1.11 ± 0.008 and, 10.7 ± 0.008 % respectively with no significant difference between GI and G2. Results of the second experiment indicated that increase of marketing BW over 400 kg had negative effect on growth traits and feedlot profitability. ADG of C2 was less (P<O.OOOI) than Cl by 16 % with an average of 0.780 ± 0.03 and 0.929± 0.03 kg. respectively. Benefit / cost ratio. net return ("A) per fattening cycle and annual net profit ("A) were 1.1 ±0.01 vs.l.05 ± 0.01 (P<0.005). 10.7± 1.3 vs. 4.95 % (P<0.004) and 26.5± 2.8 vs. 9.6 ±3.1 %, respectively. In conclusion, initial body weight (between 225 and 275 kg) had no effect neither on growth traits nor feedlot profitability. Increasing marketing body over 400 kg decreases growth traits and feedlot profitability as well.

Summary in Arabic.

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