Exterior characteristics of Aberdeen Angus bulls fed extruded rapeseed cake

¹ Federal State Budgetary Education Institution of Higher Education "Bashkir State Agrarian University", 34, ul. 50-letiya Oktyabrya, Ufa, 450001, Russia
² Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Ufa State Petroleum Technological University", 1, ul. Kosmonavtov, Ufa, 450064, Russia
³ Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM, 5, 1-i Institutskii proezd, Moscow, 109428, Russia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a scientific and farm trial conducted in 2024-2025 on Aberdeen Angus bulls in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Rapeseed is one of the most reliable sources of protein in diets and feed mixtures. The experiment aimed to study the effect of different doses of extruded rapeseed cake on the conformation and body condition indices of the bulls. The animals were divided into four groups of 10 animals each. The control group received a standard diet, while the experimental groups received rapeseed cake supplemented with 5%, 10%, and 15% of dry matter, respectively. Body measurements were taken three times: at 6, 12, and 18 months. The analysis revealed advantages for the experimental groups in key conformation parameters and index values: height at the withers, chest depth and width, oblique body length, half-girth of the haunches, and cannon bone girth. The most significant improvements were noted in pelvic width, half-girth of the hindquarters, and hip width, indicating improved muscle and bone development. These results demonstrate a positive response from bulls to the inclusion of extruded rapeseed cake in their diets, which contributes to increased productivity and economic benefits for livestock farming. The best results were achieved with the tested supplement at doses of 10% and 15% of the dry matter in the diet.