University Publications

This study was conducted to assess the performance and meat quality attributes of Friesian calves fed diets containing different sugar cane tops levels. Thirty Friesian calves (age one to one and half year) were purchased from the Fab Company, Shendi city and transported to the ruminant pens at Tayba Alhasnab village at Khartoum state. After the adaptation period of two weeks calves were weighed and divided randomly into three groups (A, B, and) C, 10 heads / group of the same initial weight and each group was separately penned. Three iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets, containing graded levels of sugar cane tops (0%, 20%, and 40%) were formulated. The calves groups were fed these diets for 63 days. Performance and feedlot parameters as feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight gain, live body measurement were studied. At the end of the experiment three calves from each group were randomly selected and slaughtered to study carcass characteristics, meat chemical composition, meat quality attributes. The study indicated that final body measurements and feedlot performance data were not significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the levels of sugar cane tops. The non-carcass components, were not affected by sugar cane tops levels except livers, Spleen, and Empty intestine which were significantly affected. Meat chemical composition was not affected by levels of sugar cane tops except total solids which were significantly affected