Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Haramaya University Beef fattening station, to evaluate the effect of maize silage inclusion at different levels on feed intake, growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Sixteen castrated Harar oxen of average age 6 years with the initial body weight of 229±1.18 kg (mean + SE) were used for the experiment. The animals were randomly distributed to four treatments each with four replications in a completely randomized design and the trial lasted for 90 days. The dietary treatments contained the native hay as basal diet and maize silage inclusion at a proportion of 0, 33, 67, and 100% for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The animals were watered and supplemented with a concentrate ration at 1.25% of their body weight twice a day. Daily dry matter intake of the ox was significantly higher (P<0.01) for T4 (8.05kg/day). Higher (P<0.001) total nutrients intake other than acid detergent fiber (ADF) and ash were recorded in the T4. The daily body gain was higher (P<0.01) for T1 (1.09 kg) than all. The dressing percentage on a slaughter basis was higher (P<0.001) for T1 (55.40%) than other treatments. The quality of beef based on Warner-Bratzler Shear Force test results, T1 and T4, T2, and T3 were categorized as tough, tender, and intermediate, respectively. Water holding capacity was significantly good (P<0.05) for T2 and T3 as compared to T1 and T4, however, no change in the pHu. Therefore, it could be concluded that the inclusion of maize silage up to 33% could be confirmed for better performance, feed conversion efficiency, carcass and meat quality parameters in the feeding of fattening oxen.