ABSTRACT
Meat is the most valuable livestock product since it is one of the main sources of protein for human consumption. Meat quality can be evaluated according to the following parameters: pH, amount of lactic acid, volatile fatty acids, bounded water, solubility of proteins, color, and tenderness. The meat composition and physical properties of muscles have been characterized for ensuring improved eating quality. Thus, the purpose of this paper was to review the major chemical compositional and physicochemical properties of meat and, at the same time, its quality attributes and factors that affect quality of meat. A number of structural features of meat as connective tissue, muscle fibers, and tendon that attaches the muscle to the bone are visible in joint meat examined through naked eyes. Water is quantitatively the most important component of meat comprising up to 75% of weight. Meat is also composed of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other important ingredients. Quality factors perceived by consumers are related to sensory attributes (e.g., color, tenderness, and flavor), nutritional properties (e.g., calories, vitamins' content, and fatty acids' profile), and appearance (e.g., exudation, marbling, and visible amount of fat). However, fresh meat quality can be defined instrumentally including composition, nutrients, color, water-holding capacity, tenderness, functionality, flavors, spoilage, and contamination. Visual inspection based on sensory quality attributes and different chemical methods are used to analyze meat quality. Other methods such as computer vision and imaging spectroscopy, gas chromatographic analysis, near-infrared technology, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and computerized tomography scanning are also used in the meat industry. So, the aim of the present review is to review quality characteristics of cattle meat and its composition constituents.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the current study was to assess the major animal health problems and their impact on beef cattle production in Doba district of West Harerghe Zone, Ethiopia. The study area was purposively selected, and a simple random sampling method was used to selected households' fatteners from each kebele and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The present study showed that the overall prevalence of the diseases was internal and external parasite 93.3%, bloat 53.3%, black leg 71.1%, pasteurolosis 71.8%, wound 71.8%, FMD 22.2%, and anthrax 13.33% which affect fattening cattle, respectively, in the study area. All the respondents (100%) involved in the study were experienced with deworming of their animals to protect from parasites. But, only 46.7% and 42.2% of the respondents have accessed veterinary services with limited regularity and vaccination program, respectively, in the study area. Hence, the beef cattle fatting sector should be supported through considering alleviating the major disease affecting this sector and encouraging the farmers' indigenous knowledge practice with technology.
ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional study design was employed on collected sera samples to investigate brucellosis in small ruminants from December 2018 to November 2019 with the objectives of estimating the seroprevalence and potential risk factors for the occurrence of brucellosis in small ruminants in selected districts of West Hararghe: Chiro, Hirna, and Mieso. A total of 2070 collected sera samples from small ruminants were tested using serological tests and screened by RBPT and confirmatory test (CFT). The overall seroprevalence of the present study was 0.24% in small ruminants (Chiro 0.2%, Hirna 0%, and Mieso 0.3%). The chi-square test (Stat 14.0) was used to determine the strength of potential risk factors associated with the occurrence of brucellosis by using univariable logistic regression. Mixed flock (OR = 2.11 (1.33-3.36 CI; P=0.002)), agropastoral (OR = 4.01 (2.35-6.84 CI; P=0.0001)) and pastoral (OR = 2.59 (1.37-4.90 CI; P=0004)) production system, and larger flock size (OR = 1.68 (1.08-2.60 CI; P=0.021) were factors significantly affecting the prevalence of small ruminant brucellosis. Univariable analysis was used, and independent predictors of small ruminant brucellosis were further analyzed using multilogistic regression. This disease was presented in the current study area; therefore, the careful separation of positive animals would help to prevent and control further distribution of the disease.
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate correlation between milk suckled and growth of calves of Ogaden cattle managed in Beef farm at Harmaya University, eastern Ethiopia. Data was collected by a method of weight-suckle-weight once in a week from 269 calves born from 1994 to 2004. Weight of calves at birth, first, third and sixth months of age were 21.5 ± 3.3, 36.3 ± 4.4, 57.4 ± 11.0 and 91.7 ± 14.7 kg (mean ± SD). The daily weight gain of calves to first, third and six months of age were 0.5 ± 0.1, 0.4 ± 0.1 and 0.4 ± 0.1 kg day(-1), respectively. The amount of milk suckled to first, third and six months of age were 5.0 ± 1.2, 4.6 ± 1.1 and 2.7 ± 0.7 kg day(-1). The milk conversion efficiency to a kg body weight at first and third months of age was 10.2 ± 2.5 and 11.6 ± 2.9, respectively. Correlation between birth weight and daily milk suckled at one, three and six months of age were 0.34 (P< 0.001), 0.22 (P< 0.001) and 0.26 (P<0.05), respectively. The correlation between weight (1 and 3 months) and daily milk suckled at first and third months of age were positive with correlation value of 0.45 (P< 0.001) and 0.43 (P< 0.001), respectively. Correlation between weight change (1 and 3 months) and daily milk suckled at first and third months of age were 0.41 (P< 0.001) and 0.38 (P< 0.001), respectively. Positive association was observed between daily weigh gain and daily milk suckled at first and third months of age with correlation value of 0.44 (P< 0.001) and 0.29 (P< 0.001), respectively. Weight at three months was significantly correlated (P< 0.001) to weight at four, five and six months of age with correlation value of 0.65, 0.63 and 0.53, respectively. The significant correlation between milk suckled and weight at three months; and weight at three months and weight at weaning indicate significant role of milk in determining weaning weight of Ogaden cattle.
ABSTRACT
Daily milk yield of Ogaden cattle was estimated from milk suckled by 269 calves born and maintained between 1994 and 2004 at Haramaya University Beef Farm, Ethiopia. The weigh-suckle-weigh method and the growth of calves were used to estimate the yield. Mean predicted daily milk yield of the breed based on the weigh-suckle-weigh method was 4.39 ± 0.03 kg day(-1). Daily milk yield estimated from the growth of calves up to 3 months of age was 4.59 ± 1.43 kg day(-1). The milk yield was significantly affected by seasons of calving (p < 0.001), parities of the dams (p < 0.05), weeks of lactation (p < 0.001) and birth weights of calves (p < 0.05). A relatively higher milk yield was observed from cows calved during the long rain season. A higher milk yield was produced by cows in fifth parity. Heavier calves at birth suckled more milk than lighter calves. Daily milk yield was significantly higher in 3-6 weeks of lactation. The result of this study indicated that the milk yield produced by Ogaden breed was relatively higher than the yield of some Zebu breed measured by partial suckling system in Ethiopia and was comparable to the yield from Zebu cattle in the tropics estimated by the same method.
