INFLUENCE OF SLAUGHTER AGE ON CARCASS COMPOSITION AND BEEF YIELD OF WHITE FULANI CATTLE

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of age on carcass composition of white Fulani beef cattle grazed on tropical pasture till slaughter in Akwa Ibom State University Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom State.A total of nine (9) male white Fulani cattle were used for the study, which were categorized into three different age groups (3-3.5, 4-5 and 5.5-6.5 years) respectively. Data on the animal carcass composition and external offal (slaughter weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage) were obtained and used to investigate the effect of age on them.Data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that there was no significant different (P<0.05) in dressing percentages (%) for the three age groups. The age significantly (P<0.05) influenced the live weight, carcass composition and some external offals. Thus, it was concluded that age had no influence on the dressing percentage of the studied White Fulani bulls. However, increase in beef yield was accompanied with advancement in age.