Evaluation of live weight and carcass characteristics of local cattle in Zanzibar

A study was conducted to evaluate live weight and carcass characteristics of cattle in Zanzibar. Forty eight indigenous bulls aged 2–2.5 years with live body weight of 106.75 ± 10.23 to 186.17 ±10.23 kg were purchased from four Districts of Micheweni, Chake-Chake, of Pemba region and Central and North “A”, Unguja region for slaughter. The body condition score and initial body weight of animals were recorded before slaughtering process. All appendages were removed, weighed and recorded separately. Carcass was incised through median plan and the abdominal cavity contents were weighed individually and recorded separately. The dressing-out percentage was estimated as the hot carcass weight divided by the final body weight in percentage. Killing out parameters of cattle from North “A” were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those from Central, Micheweni and Chake-Chake. Weight of carcass joints of the cattle from Chake-Chake and Micheweni were significantly lower (p<0.05) than North “A” and Central. Animals from North “A” and Central were significantly (p<0.05) high in total weight of tissues than Micheweni and Chake-Chake. The lean: fat ratio of 43.31:1 was significant higher (p<0.05) for Chake Chake district, while Central district had significant higher (p<0.05) lean: bone ratio of 1.77:1. Generally; the study showed differences in live weight of cattle reared within the four Districts in Zanzibar. However the average dressing percentage of 48% obtained from this study is within range of 47 – 53 % reported on other studies conducted in Tanzania Mainland