Jules Mutabazi

Cost effectiveness of feeding cattle fed rice straw with concentrates Jules Mutabazi

Cattle genotypes and adoption of new feeding technology are necessary forimproving beef cattle production and managing efficiently beef productioncosts. A study was conducted to determine the effects of cattle genotypesand levels of concentrate supplements on cost effectiveness of feedlot beefproduction in a Complete Randomized Block Design in 3x4 factorialarrangements with 4 replications. Feeds were urea-treated rice straw(UTRS: 4%, w/w) and concentrates made from decorticated cottonseedcake (66%) and maize bran (34%). The experimental animals were Ankole(A×A: n=16), Ankole × Friesian (A×F: n=16) and Ankole × Sahiwal (A×S: n=16) steers. Proxy indicators used to determine profitability andlikelihood of economic viability were Initial and Final values of carcassexisting abattoir price (RwF 1800/kg beef); Break-even scenarios usingWhat-if Analysis in Excel, 2010; and Gross Margin (GM). Resultssuggested that cost effectiveness of feedlot beef did not differ (p>0.05) bygenotype; but they differed (p