Performance of cattle reared on rangelands supplemented with farm-formulated diets during the dry season in Zimbabwe
J. Gusha A D , T. Chiuta B , S. Katsande A , P. I. Zvinorova A and S. M. Kagande C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Para clinical Veterinary studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare.
B Makoholi Research Institute, Private Bag 9182, Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
C Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare.
D Corresponding author. Email: jtgusha@gmail.com
Animal Production Science 57(6) 1163-1169 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15900
Submitted: 14 July 2015 Accepted: 25 February 2016 Published: 24 June 2016
Abstract
Feed quality in rangelands reaches an all-time low during the dry season thus affecting animal performance. The use of farm-formulated supplements is an alternative which can be adopted to minimise the effects of nutritional stress. However, the effects of supplementing nursing cows, twice a week with farm-formulated diets; on cow maintenance, calf weaning weight and conception rate is little known. Thirty indigenous Mashona cows were allocated to five treatments of a commercial supplement known as beef survival meal, urea-treated maize stover, Leucaena leucocephala meal, mixed forage meal and without supplements. The study was repeated with a new set of nursing cows each year for 3 years. Nutrient composition of treatment diets varied with Leucaena leucocephala having more crude protein than the other diets. Forage-supplemented groups had higher (P < 0.05) rate of weight increase and weaning weights with Leucaena leucocephala and beef survival meal having better results among the groups. Nursing cows that were in protein-supplemented groups had significantly higher (P < 0.05) conception rate than the group of nursing cows, which were not offered the protein supplements. We concluded that, with farm-formulated supplements given twice per week, nursing cows can maintain better body condition, wean heavier calves and successful conceive every year thus improving animal productivity.
Additional keywords: feed quality, farmer adoption, ruminant nutrition, supplementation, sustainable agriculture.
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