Nutritive evaluation of Sugarcane Tops and Meat parameters of Dairy Calves, Cross bred and Pure Local (Kenana Breed -Sudan)

This study was carried to evaluate sugarcane tops (SCT) in terms of degradability and fermentation gas production and to evaluate local and crossbred calves fed (SCT) in terms of meat composition. Calves of various Friesian and Kenana blood levels 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 Friesian and pure local Kenana breed fed (SCT) at levels of 20% ration (A) or 30% ration (B) added to conventional fattening ration. Each blood group was divided into equally two subgroups on average live body weight bases. In Sacco degradability, in vitro gas production for the two rations and meat analysis of calves were carried out. Concerning in vitro dry matter and crude protein degradability, ration (A) was significantly (P < 0.05) degraded than ration (B) except in incubation period 3hr, 24hr and 48hr in which ration A was highly degraded. The effective degradability at three levels of rumen out flow rates (0.02, 0.05 and 0.08) were higher in ration A than ration B. Similarly the gas volumes produced at each incubation period were higher for ration (A) than for (B). Meat composition was studied in addition to water holding capacity and cooking loss. Differences due to rations were variable among the animal groups. However, moisture percent, water holding capacity and cooking loss were lower in animals consumed ration (B) than those consumed ration (A). Fat content was higher in ration (B) than in ration (A) for 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 Friesian. Local calves that consumed ration (B) had lower moisture and fat content and higher percent of cooking loss compared to those consumed ration (A).