Effects of Quebracho Tannins on Growth Performance and Blood Routine of Simmental Fattening Cattle

[Objectives]The effects of condensed quebracho tannins on the production performance and blood routine indices of Simmental fattening cattle were investigated experimentally.[Methods]Twenty four Simmental fattening cattle were selected and randomly divided into two treatment groups according to their body weight,with 12 animals in each group.The diet of the control group consisted of beef cattle concentrate supplement+silage+hay,and the diet of the experimental group consisted of beef cattle concentrate supplement+silage+hay+tannins,and the experimental period was 30 d.[Results]Compared with the control group,the addition of tannins[30 g/(cattle·d)]to the diet of beef cattle increased the daily weight gain of Simmental beef cattle by 24.68%(P<0.01),while the feed conversion ratio decreased by 2.57%(P>0.05).The gross profit per cattle increased by 973.63 yuan,and the economic benefit increased by 114.78%.Platelets were higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01);hemoglobin was lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01);leukocytes,neutrophils,monocytes and lymphocytes were lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.01);and erythrocytes were lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational utilization of quebracho tannins.

Analysis on the Impact of Cattle Fattening Technology on Farmer Households in Atabae Timor-Leste

Agriculture is one of the priority sectors in Timor-Leste. Introducing new agriculture technology is crucial to enhance agricultural production. Practicing cattle fattening can increase beef cattle body weight and generate income to the beef cattle farmers. As farmers face problems including agricultural production decline, lack of forages and information and weather unfavourable. The study’s purpose was to examine the impact of adoption of cattle fattening technology on farmer households in Atabae administrative post, Bobonaro municipality in Timor-Leste. There were 200 beef cattle farmers households where randomly selected in four villages in Atabae. It consisted of 65 farmers practicing cattle fattening and 135 farmers non-practicing cattle fattening. Face to face interviews used structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis such as t-test and descriptive analysis were used to examine impact adoption of cattle fattening technology by farmers and factor constraints of cattle production and the solutions of it. The results indicated the average value of cattle and profit were significant different from zero and it is associated with practicing of cattle fattening. The average of labour used on cattle activities, the average of cattle sold, and total cost spent on cattle were not significant different from zero. The percentage of farmers said that factors constraints cattle production were shortage of water and forage (53%) and spend time on culture ceremony and lack of capital (33%). The number of farmers said that they collected water from river, feed cattle with sago and forage (55.3%) and cultivated forage (23.4%). This finding contributes information to the farmers, traders, and Timorese government to continue implementing cattle fattening activities as it enhances farmers’ income and developing cattle production.

On-farm Evaluation and Demonstration of Different Feeding Treatment for Beef Cattle Fattening in Adami Tulu Jidokombolcha District, East Shoa Zone

Evaluation and demonstration study was conducted at Kemo-Gerbi kebele of Adami Tulu Jidokombolcha district on two to three year old Borana bulls with the objectives of evaluation and demonstration of bulls fattening technologies at on-farm level.One farmer’s research extension group(FREG)was formed for fattening the bulls.Twenty bulls were purchased from Borana zone by farmers for the fattening trials.Two feeding treatments(T1=crushed maize grain(20%)+wheat bran(45%)+35%Noug cake and T2=wheat bran(65%)+cotton seed cake(35%))were evaluated at on-farm.Eight hour grazing was common for both treatments.The animals were randomly assigned for dietary rations and data on live weight change of the animals were taken using weight chart tape(developed by JICA project).Finishing weights,total weight gain and daily weight gain of the bulls were not different(P>0.05)between the treatments.Bulls fed on treatment one attained an average daily weight gain of 0.83 kg per bull;while bulls fed on treatment two gained 0.76 kg per bull per day.Total gross margin of treatment one(53,154.5 ETB)was higher than treatment two(49,467.75 ETB).Cost-benefit analysis showed that feeding option number one(T1)is more profitable than feeding option number two(T2).However,fatteners can use any of the feeding options depending on availability of the ingredients in their area.