Summary
The effect of dry-season supplementation of White Fulani cattle in northern Nigeria with legume standing hay (fodderbanks) was investigated. Over 430 cattle were recorded in 8 herds over 2·5 years. Fodder bank supplementation may have reduced weight losses in calves and breeding females during the dry-season. Emergency sales of immature animals were lower on fodder banks (6·5% vs 14·3%, P<0·01). There was no evidence that fodder banks reduced cattle mortalities during the dry season. Fodder banks may have had a deleterious effect by encouraging dry-season conceptions. Resulting dry season calvings led to calving percentages of 36·9% on fodder and 60·3% on no fodder (P<0·05). Calf mortality was also higher on fodder banks; animals not reaching their second year were 13% on fodder bank vs 3·9% on no fodder (P<0·01). It was concluded that dry season nutrition interaction with the agro-pastoralist livestock system needs further investigation.
Résumé
L'effet de l'apport nutritif, en période sèche, utilisant des légumineuses fourragères (fourrage) fut étudié chez la race bovine Fulani blanche du Nord Nigeria. Plus de 430 bovins furent répertoriés dans 8 groupes de veaux et de femelles de reproduction pendant la saison sèche. Les ventes d'urgence d'animaux immatures furent réduites sur les talus fourragers (6,5% contre 14,3%, P<0,01). Il ne fut pas évident que l'apport fourrager réduisit la mortalité du bétail pendant la saison sèche. L'apport fourrager put avoir un effet néfaste en encourageant le vêlage en période sèche. Le vêlage durant la période sèche fut de 36,9% pur le fourrage et 60,3% sans fourrage (P<0,05). La mortalité des veaux fut aussi plus élevée sur les talus fourragers; les animaux m'atteignant pas leur deuxième année furent de 13% sur talus fourragers contre 3,9% pour les autres (P<0,01). Il fut conclut que l'intéraction entre l'alimentation on période sèche et le système agro-pastoral pour le bétail nécessite une étude plus poussée.
Resumen
Se estudió el efecto de la suplementación con heno de leguminosa durante la estación seca en ganado vacuno Fulani Blanco en el norte de Nigeria. Se estudiaron más de 430 animales distribuídos en 8 rebaños a lo largo de un período de más de 2·5 años. La suplementación podría haber reducido la pérdida de peso en terneros y hembras reproductoras durante la estación seca. Las ventas de emergencia de animales inmaduros fueron menos numerosas en los rebaños suplementados que en los no suplementados (6·5% vs 14·3%, P<0·01). No se encontró ninguna evidencia de que la suplementación disminuyera la mortalidad de los animales durante la estación seca. La suplementación podría haber tenido un efecto negativo al aumentar las gestaciones durante la época seca. Esto tuvo como consecuencia un porcentaje de partos de 36·9% en los rebańos suplementados y de 60·3% en rebańos no suplementados (P<0·05). En terneros, la mortalidad fue mayor en rebaños suplementados que en rebaños no suplementados; los animales que no alcanzaron el segundo ańo de vida supusieron el 13% en los rebaños suplementados y el 3·9% en los no suplementados (P<0·01). Se concluyó que la interacción entre la nutrición durante la época seca y los sistemas de producción agro-pastorales requiere más investigación.
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Campbell, D.A., Ikuegbu, O.A., Owen, E. et al. Responses to supplementation in white fulani cattle under agro-pastoral management in northern nigeria. II. Fodder. Trop Anim Health Prod 28, 230–236 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02240942
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02240942
Keywords
- Deleterious Effect
- Veterinary Medicine
- Como
- Immature Animal
- Breeding Female