The Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences, from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), proudly congratulates Mr. Ezekiel Petro Maro on the successful defence of his MSc in Tropical Animal Production.
Mr. Maro’s dissertation, titled “An Assessment of the Performance and Beef Quality Attributes of Boran Crossbred Cattle Finished Using Different Strategies,” examined how finishing practices and slaughter periods influence growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of Boran crossbred cattle.
His research study compared three feeding strategies, including sole grazing, grazing plus concentrate supplementation, and feedlot finishing at slaughter periods of 45, 60, and 75 days. Findings revealed that feedlot and concentrate-supplemented grazing for 75 days significantly improved growth performance, carcass yield, and beef quality attributes. However, grazing with supplementation was more profitable than feedlot finishing at 75 days. Importantly, feedlot finishing combined with 12 days of meat ageing produced tender beef with enhanced colour and consumer appeal.
This research addresses key challenges in Tanzania’s beef sector, including low carcass weights, tough meat, and profitability concerns under traditional grazing systems. By demonstrating how optimized finishing strategies can improve both beef yield and economic returns, the study offers practical solutions for farmers and feedlot operators seeking to meet the growing demand for high-quality beef in Tanzania and beyond.
The candidate was supervised by Prof. Germana H. Laswai and Prof. Anthony Z. Sangeda, both from the Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences, whose mentorship and guidance were invaluable throughout the study.
Notably, the research has already produced two peer-reviewed publications:
-
Effects of Finishing Strategies on the Performance and Profitability of Boran Crossbred Cattle (AJRAVS, 2024).
-
An Assessment of the Carcass Composition and Meat Quality of Boran Crossbred Cattle Finished Using Different Strategies (AJRAVS, 2025).
This work highlights Sokoine University of Agriculture’s commitment to generating evidence-based innovations for sustainable livestock development in Tanzania.
The Department of Animal, Aquaculture, and Range Sciences
The College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture
Share this page
