This trial was conducted to study the production and biological efficiency of 48 buffaloes averaging 18 months of age and initial body weight of 330 kg finished in feedlot. Sixteen animals from each of the following breeds were used: Murrah (MUR), Jafarabadi (JAF), and Mediterranean (MED). Within each genetic group, four animals (references) were randomly assigned to initial slaughter in order to determine empty body weight (EBW) and initial carcass. The remaining 12 animals from each genetic group were randomly distributed to three sub-groups of four animals according to the following treatments, respectively: Maturity 1 (Slaughter Weight-1) - 400 kg BW; Maturity 2 (Slaughter Weight -2) - 450 kg BW; Maturity 3 (Slaughter Weight -3) - 500 kg BW. Animals had free access to a diet containing (DM basis): 50% of coast-cross hay and 50% of concentrate composed by ground corn, urea, soybean meal, and minerals. The EBW was obtained after each pre-determined slaughter through the sum of the total parts of the animal body. No significant differences in the daily average intake of DM and OM were observed among genetic groups. Both empty body weight gain and carcass gain also did not differ significantly comparing MUR, JAF and MED animals. Similarly, biological efficiency (empty body weight gain efficiency and carcass gain per unit of metabolizable energy) did not change across genetic groups. Buffaloes slaughtered at 400 and 450 kg BW showed higher empty body weight gain and carcass gain efficiency than those slaughtered at 500 kg BW.
buffaloes; intake; Jafarabadi; Mediterranean; Murrah; slaughter weight
