Summary
The breeding performance of small herds of N'dama, Muturu and Zebu cattle and the growth of their progeny were compared under similar husbandry conditions in the derived Guinea savannah vegetation zone of northern Nigeria.
N'dama and Muturu heifers produced a first calf when less than24 months old and the mean interval between subsequent calves was less than12 months. The mean age at first calving of Zebu heifers was25 months and the calving interval was13 1/4 months. The average birth weight of male N'dama calves was18.1 kg and they maintained average growth rates of0.42 kg/day to weaning at six months and0.27 kg/day from6–18 months on unimproved pastures. The corresponding figures for male Muturu calves were13.7 kg,0.31 kg/day and0.21 kg/day and for Zebu calves were26.5 kg,0.58 kg/day and0.34 kg/day.
These results emphasise the need for further work on the nutritional physiology and trypanosome resistance of N'dama and Muturu cattle, so that their value as beef producing animals can be properly assessed in areas where trypanosomiasis is enzootic.
Résumé
La reproduction chez de petits troupeaux de N'Dama, de Muturu et de Zébu, ainsi que la croissance de leurs produitusont été étudiés comparativement, tous ces animaux étant entretenus dans des conditions semblables dans la zone de savanes guinéennes de la Nigeria du Nord.
Les génisses N'Dama et Muturu donnent leur premier veau alors qu'elles n'ont pas encore atteint l'age de 24 mois et l'intervalle moyen entre deux vêlages successifs est inférieur à 12 mois.
Chez le Zébu, ces durées ont respectivement été de 25 et 13 mois 1/4.
Le poids moyen, à la naissance du veau N'Dama, a été de 18,1 kg alors que son augmentation moyenne journalière a été de 0,42 kg, jusqu'au sixième mois pour passer à 0,27 kg de 6 à 18 mois sur paturage non amélioré.
Les données correspondantes pour les veaux males Muturu ont été de 13,7 kg, de 0,31 kg/jour et 0,21 kg/jour et pour les veaux Zébu de 26,5 kg, 0,58 kg/jour et 0,34 kg/jour.
Ces résultats montrent la nécessité d'études ultérieures sur la physiologie nutritionnelle et la résistance aux trypanosomes du bétail N'Dama et Muturu de façon à tirer le plus de ressources possibles de leur capacité à fournir de la viande dans les régions où les trypanosomoses sont enzootiques.
Sumario
La performance reproductiva de pequeños hatos de ganado N'dama, Muturu y Cebu y el crecimiento de sus crias fueron, comparados bajo condiciones de crianza similares en una zona de vegetación en el norte de Nigeria.
Las terneras N'dama y Muturú produjeron su primera cria cuando aun no tenian 20 meses de edad y el intervalo promedio entre subsecuentes pariciones era menos de 12 meses. La edad promedio a la primera parición en las terneras Cebú era de 25 meses y el intervalo entre pariciones fue de 13 1/4 meses. El peso promedio al nacimiento de terneros machos N'dama fue de 18.1 kg. y estos mantuvieron un incremento promedio de cremento de 0.42 kg por dia hasta el destete a los 6 meses, y 0.27 kg. por dia desde 6–18 meses en pastos mejorados. Las figuras correspondientes para los terneros Muturú machos fueron de 13.7 kg, 0.31 kg. por dia y 0.21 kg por dia y para los terneros Cebú, las figuras fueron 26.5 kg. 0.58 kg. por dia y 0.34 kg. dia.
Estos resultandos ponen en ènfasis la necesidad de mayor trabajo sobre la fisiología de la nutrición y resistencia a la trypanosomiasis del ganado N'dama y Muturù, de tal manera que sus valores como productores de carne puedan ser propiamente evaluados en áreas en donde la trypanosomiasis es enzoótica.
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Roberts, C.J., Gray, A.R. Studies on Trypanosome-resistant cattle. I. The breeding and growth performance of N'Dama, Muturu and Zebu cattle maintained under the same conditions of husbandry. Trop Anim Health Prod 5, 211–219 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02240422
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02240422