Browsing by Author "Weisbjerg, M.R."

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Assessment on the availability of cattle and feeds for quality beef production in Tanzanian
(ENRECA IGMAFU, 2008) Nandonde, S.W.; Tarimo, M.; Laswai, G.H.; Mgheni, D.M.; Mtenga, L.A.; Kimambo, A.E.; Madsen, J.; Hvelplund, T.; Weisbjerg, M.R.
Growing demand for quality beef has motivated livestock keepers to finish cattle under feedlot. However, there is no reliable information on feed and animal resources that could sustainably support beef fattening in Tanzania.
Growth performance and carcass characteristics of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu cattle finished on molasses or maize grain with rice or maize by-products
(Elsevier Inc., 2015-11-03) Asimwe, L.; Kimambo, A.E.; Laswai, G.H.; Mtenga, L.A.; Weisbjerg, M.R.; Madsen, J.; Mushi, D.E.
Forty five steers (2.5–3.0 years of age and 200 7 5 (SEM) kg body weight) were allotted randomly into five diets to assess the effects of finishing Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ) cattle in feedlot using diets based on either molasses or maize grain combined with maize or rice by-products. The diets were hay and concentrate mixtures of hominy feed with molasses (HFMO), rice polishing with molasses (RPMO), hominy feed with maize meal (HFMM), rice polishing with maize meal (RPMM) and a control of maize meal with molasses (MMMO). All concentrate mixtures contained cotton seed cake, mineral mixture, salt and urea. Both hay and concentrate were fed ad libitum and with free access to drinking water for 90 days. Feed intake, body weights and carcass characteristics were recorded. The daily total dry matter intake (DMI, kg/day) was greater (Po 0.05) in molasses based diets (7.64 for RPMO and 7.35 for HFMO) than in maize grain based diets (6.94, 6.73 and 6.19 for RPMM, MMMO and HFMM, respectively). Energy intake was highest (P o0.05) in HFMO (86 MJ/day) and lowest in RPMM (69 MJ/day). Crude protein intake was highest in HFMO (867 g/day) and lowest in RPMO (725 g/day). Feed conversion ratio (kg feed DMI/kg gain) was lower (P o0.05) for steers fed on HFMM (7.87) and HFMO (8.09) than those fed on MMMO (10.4), RPMM (11.0) and RPMO (11.5). Steers fed on HFMO had the highest (Po 0.05) daily weight gain (919 g/day), total weight gain (83 kg), final live weight (283 kg), empty body weight (268 kg) and hot carcass weight (151 kg). The proportion of internal fat to empty body weight (2.7%) in steers fed on HFMO was higher (P o0.05) than those from other diets. Nevertheless, all carcasses showed relatively high fat cover (1.1–1.6 cm). It is concluded that agro-processing by products are good feed resources for finishing TSZ cattle in feedlots with formulations based on molasses being superior over those based on maize meal, and hominy feed being superior over rice polishing. A combination of molasses and hominy feed (HFMO) could be used successfully as an alternative to maize meal in finishing TSZ cattle in feedlot.
Predicting of maximum forage intake capacity in cattle from degradability characteristics, passage rate and rumen pool size of NDF
(2005) Mgheni, D.M.; Weisbjerg, M.R.; Kimambo, A.E.; Hvelplund, T.; Madsen, J.; Mtenga, L.A.
An experiment (5 x 5 Latin Square) was conducted to estimate the physical fill of tropical forages and maximum intake capacity of five mature non-pregnant crossbred dairy heifers kept under zero grazing system. Five (5) forages [Brachiaria brizantha hay (BH), Maize (Zea mays) silage (MS), Lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay (LH), Lucerne and grass hay (LGH) and urea-treated rice straw (UTRS)) were used. The forages were fed as sole diets ad libitum with only minerals and vitamins supplements. Water was provided all the time and measured daily. Voluntary feed intake (VFJ) and faecal output were measured for seven days. Degradability characteristics were obtained in situ using the nylon bag technique. Rumen pool size of NDF was measured by rumen evacuation technique. Passage rates were calculated based on faecal output and rumen pool size of NDF. There was a marked difference (P<0. 000l) between the rate and extent at which NDF for tropical forages was degraded. The rate of passage (% h-1) was different (P<0.03) between forage diets with values ranging from 1.4 to 1.8 for MS and UTRS, respectively. Rumen pool sizes of NDF were different (P<0.01) between forage diets and weighed 4.8, 3.8, 4.7, 5.2 and 4.5 kg for BH, MS, LH, LGH and UTRS, respectively. Fill (days) also varied between forage diets and ranged from 1.4 for UTRS to 1.8 for MS. The intake capacity of animals for NDF were different (P<0.01), highest in animals fed LGH (5.0 kg-1) and lowest in animals fed MS 3.1 kg-1). Using predicted NDF intake (PNDFJ) based on NDF degradability characteristics and passage rates derived from faecal output and rumen pool size of NDF, good prediction of dry matter intake was obtained (R2 = 0.70). It was concluded that a system of describing the physical fill of NDF in tropical forages could be used to predict VFI in cattle.