Effect of Granulated Sudan Grass Feed on the Fattening Performance and Meat Quality of Young Cattle

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of various methods of Sudan grass forage preparation and their impact on the meat productivity of young cattle. The scientific and economic experiment was conducted at the “Tulpar” peasant farm in the Almaty region in 2023–2024. Forty Aulie-Ata breed bulls were selected for the experiment and divided into a control group and three experimental groups, with 10 animals in each. The animals were fed Sudan grass-based feeds prepared at the stem elongation and seed formation stages in the form of hay, silage, and pelleted feed. During the experiment, pre-slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, internal fat weight, and the morphological and grade composition of the carcasses were evaluated. The results showed that the highest meat productivity indicators were observed in animals fed with granulated Sudan grass feed: the dressing percentage was 57.8%, and the lean meat weight was 166.1 kg, which is 11.5 kg higher than the corresponding indicator of the control group. An advantage was also found in the content of higher-grade lean meat. Thus, it was demonstrated for the first time that the use of Sudan grass, harvested at the tillering stage and processed into granulated feed, contributes to an increase in dressing percentage and improvement in the qualitative composition of meat during the fattening of young cattle in the arid regions of Kazakhstan. This indicates the high efficiency of granulated Sudan grass feed as a promising component of rations for beef cattle production.