FIQIRI TAHIRI*, LUAN HAJNO, FATMIRA LEKA(SULAJ)
Agricultural Technology Transfer Center, Fushe Kruja, Albania
*Corresponding author e-mail: fiqiritahiri@yahoo.com
Abstract
Study was carried out at commercial beef farm ”Kazazi”, Kavaja. The objective was to evaluate growth performance of F1 crossbreds. A total of 40 calves (n= 8 heads of each group) was included in experiment. The analysis comprised purebred HF bull calves (control group) and crossbred bull calves (experiment groups) born from crossings: (CH♂ x HF♀); (BB♂ x HF♀); (S♂ x HF♀) and (AA♂ x HF♀). Body weights at birth, weaning (84 days) and post-weaning (182; 274; 365 and 450 days) were evaluated. Average daily gains, feed intake and efficiency as well as feed ration costs from birth to weaning, and post weaning (85-182; 183- 274; 275- 365 and 366-450 days) were evaluated. The CH × HF, BB x HF and S x HF F1 crossbreds reached higher body weights (kg) at birth: 42.7±2.87; 40.81±2.51 and 41.6±2.70 (p<0.01; 0.05; 0.05); weaning: 115.10±9.24; 111.75±8.53 and 110.18±7.91 (p<0.05; 0.05; 0.001) and final one: 488.80 ±24.61; 478.58±46.34 and 459±32.77 (p<0.05; 0.01; 0.05) compared to purebred HF bull calves body weight (kg): at birth 40.22±2.60; weaning 102.48±8.56 and final one 404.28±31.52 respectively. The CH × HF, BB x HF and S x HF F1 crossbreds had higher average daily gains (g): from birth to weaning 862±76; 844±72 and 816±62 (p<0.05; 0.01, 0.05) and weaning to finishing: 993±87; 978±82; and 953±76 (p<0.05; 0.05; p<0.01) compared to purebred HF bull calves daily gains(g): from birth to weaning 741±73 and weaning to finishing 825±64 respectively. AA x HF crossbred bull calves had the lowest body weights(kg) at birth 35.81±2.24 (P<0.05) and higher daily gains(g): from birth to weaning 781±73(p<0.01) as well as post weaning 969±58; 948± 59; 846± 61;782± 73(p<0.05; 0.05; 0.001) compared to purebred HF bull calves live weight(kg): at birth 40.22±2.60 and daily gains(g): from birth to weaning 741±73 as well as post weaning 897±58; 851±71; 810 ± 55; 729±68 respectively. Feed efficiency (gain/feed) for all the period from birth to finishing (0-450 days) for CH × HF, BB x HF, S x HF and AA x HF F1 crossbreds resulted 24.48; 22.41; 19.02 and 11.4% higher than purebred HF bull calves respectively. Average costs of daily feed diets for the periods 0-84 and 366-450 days resulted 20.34 (283.8lek) and 14.51 % (270.07 lek) respectively higher than average feed diet cost (235.84 lek) for all the period 0-450 days. As a conclusion: CH × HF, BB x HF, S x HF and AA x HF F1 crossbreds, as a result of heterosis, had growth rate as well as feed efficiency higher than purebred HF bull calves
Key words: calf; body weight; gain, feed efficiency
