Liveweight gains and carcass composition of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) steers on four feeding regimes

Abstract

Twenty buffalo steers were divided into four groups of five and were lot-fed for 86–287 days on nutritional regimes that varied from roughage to high-grain concentrate, and liveweight gains and carcass composition were determined. Mean daily liveweight gains were 0.74 kg (fed on three-quarters pellets + one-quarter hay), 0.67 kg (all pellets), 0.64 kg (three-quarters hay + one-quarter pellets) and 0.56 kg (all hay). Feeding regime had little effect on carcass composition. The proportions of muscle, bone, fat and connective tissue did not vary significantly among the four nutritional groups. The carcass composition of the buffalo steers did not differ greatly from that of a group of buffalo bulls previously dissected by the authors, the major difference being that the steers had significantly more fat (16.0%) than the bulls (10.6%). It was concluded that the carcass composition of the buffalo is relatively resistant to extremes of diet and to castration, and that the species does not show a propensity to fatten under 30 months of age.