TY - JOUR

T1 - Economics of finishing Tanzania shorthorn zebu cattle in feedlot and optimum finishing period

AU - Asimwe, L.

AU - Kimambo, A. E.

AU - Laswai, G. H.

AU - Mtenga, L. A.

AU - Weisbjerg, M. R.

AU - Madsen, Jørgen

PY - 2016/11/1

Y1 - 2016/11/1

N2 - Economic potential of finishing Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ) cattle in feedlot was analysed using data obtained from two feedlot experiments carried out at Kongwa ranch in Tanzania. The experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of feeding agro-processing by products and length of feedlot finishing for TSZ cattle. The biological data collected from the two experiments were used as basis for deriving the economic scenarios. The range of days steers were kept in feedlot was set at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 days. The dietary metabolisable energy intake (MEI) levels used in the study were 55 MJ/day (Low) and 85 MJ/day (High). The amount of extra meat (34.4 kg) produced from high MEI was more than twice the amount produced from low (15.7 kg) MEI for the feedlot period of 100 days. Feed cost per kg of extra meat (6,100 TSh.) was higher for low MEI than for high MEI (3,923 TSh.) for 100 days in feedlot. Non-feed costs per kg extra meat were higher for short stays (4,500 TSh.) than long stays (2,630 TSh.) If meat prices were independent on finishing period length, high MEI was profitable with increment of (81%) profit per kg extra meat for an increase from 50 to 75 days in feedlot. Assuming a 10% increase in meat price due to feedlot finishing regardless of finishing length, profit per animal carcass increased with increasing days in feedlot for high MEI from 71,800 TSh. in 25 days to 143,000 TSh. in 100 days in feedlot. Assuming meat price increased by 5% with each increase in feedlot finishing length of 25 days, higher profit per animal carcass was realized with long stays (100 days, 238,000 TSh.) than short stays (25 days, 37,600 TSh.). It was concluded that the high feeding level is the most profitable irrespective of meat price and finishing length. The optimum finishing length is between 50 and 75 days when price does not change with feedlot finishing and 100 days when price changes with feedlot finishing length.

AB - Economic potential of finishing Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSZ) cattle in feedlot was analysed using data obtained from two feedlot experiments carried out at Kongwa ranch in Tanzania. The experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of feeding agro-processing by products and length of feedlot finishing for TSZ cattle. The biological data collected from the two experiments were used as basis for deriving the economic scenarios. The range of days steers were kept in feedlot was set at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 days. The dietary metabolisable energy intake (MEI) levels used in the study were 55 MJ/day (Low) and 85 MJ/day (High). The amount of extra meat (34.4 kg) produced from high MEI was more than twice the amount produced from low (15.7 kg) MEI for the feedlot period of 100 days. Feed cost per kg of extra meat (6,100 TSh.) was higher for low MEI than for high MEI (3,923 TSh.) for 100 days in feedlot. Non-feed costs per kg extra meat were higher for short stays (4,500 TSh.) than long stays (2,630 TSh.) If meat prices were independent on finishing period length, high MEI was profitable with increment of (81%) profit per kg extra meat for an increase from 50 to 75 days in feedlot. Assuming a 10% increase in meat price due to feedlot finishing regardless of finishing length, profit per animal carcass increased with increasing days in feedlot for high MEI from 71,800 TSh. in 25 days to 143,000 TSh. in 100 days in feedlot. Assuming meat price increased by 5% with each increase in feedlot finishing length of 25 days, higher profit per animal carcass was realized with long stays (100 days, 238,000 TSh.) than short stays (25 days, 37,600 TSh.). It was concluded that the high feeding level is the most profitable irrespective of meat price and finishing length. The optimum finishing length is between 50 and 75 days when price does not change with feedlot finishing and 100 days when price changes with feedlot finishing length.

KW - Cost

KW - Days in feedlot

KW - Energy intake

KW - Profit

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84994372781

VL - 28

JO - Livestock Research for Rural Development

JF - Livestock Research for Rural Development

SN - 0121-3784

IS - 11

M1 - 201

ER -