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Productive and reproductive performance of strategically supplemented free grazing prepartum Bunaji cows in the agropastoral farming system

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Abstract

The effects of prepartum supplementary feeding on the productive and reproductive performance were investigated using grazing gestating Bunaji cows with an average initial body weight of 294.50 ± 3.75 kg. Twenty cows were allocated to a completely randomized design, with five animals per treatment. The treatments were: A, range grazing (RG); B, RG + 100% corn bran (CB); C, RG + 60% CB + 40% palm kernel cake (PKC), and D, RG + 60% CB + 40% dried brewer’s grains (DBG). The average daily gains (ADG) and body condition scores (BCS) of supplemented cows were significantly better than the non-supplemented cows. Postpartum weight loss was markedly reduced in supplemented cows compared to their non-supplemented counterparts. Mean milk offtake and mean milk yield per lactation were significantly lower in non-supplemented cows than the supplemented ones. Among the supplemented cows, ADG, BCS, mean milk offtake and milk yield per lactation were significantly better for cows on treatments C and D than those on treatment B. Though insignificant, longest lactation length (LL) and shortest calving interval were obtained for supplemented cows. Calf’s birth weight was similar among the treatments. Milk yield was significantly influenced (R2 = 0.8601) by cow’s weight, BCS and LL.

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Abbreviations

ADG:

average daily gain

CB:

corn bran

BCS:

body condition score

DBG:

dried brewer’s grains

LL:

lactation length

PKC:

palm kernel cake

RG:

range grazing

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Acknowledgement

The authors gratefully acknowledge Mr A. A. Busari at the International Livestock Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria for help in the field operations.

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Author notes

  1. O. A. Olafadehan

    Present address: Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Wildlife Management, P.M.B. 268, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria

    O. A. Olafadehan

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    M. K. Adewumi

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  1. O. A. Olafadehan
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  2. M. K. Adewumi
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Correspondence to O. A. Olafadehan.

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Olafadehan, O.A., Adewumi, M.K. Productive and reproductive performance of strategically supplemented free grazing prepartum Bunaji cows in the agropastoral farming system. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 1275–1281 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9312-0

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