INFLUENCE OF SIRE AND DAM BREED ON SOME REPRODUCTIVE AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SMALL HOLDER CATTLE HERDS IN JIGAWA STATE OF NIGERIA.

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Date
2011-06
Authors
UMAR, Muhammad Lawal
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Abstract
This study had the objectives of determining the fertility and calving ease of small holder indigenous cattle herds inseminated with imported semen from proven sires, as well as to determine the effects of non genetic factors, and sire and dam breed on birth weight and growth rate of the crossbred calves. The results showed that the mean age, parity, body condition score, number of inseminations per conception and gestation length of cows and birth weight of calves were 6.2years, 2.3, 3.8, 1.3, 286.1 days and 29.5kg, respectively. Age, parity and number of insemination per conception were highly variable (CV=32-47%) while body condition score and gestation length of cows and birth weight of calves were less variable (CV=3-17%). Fifty four percent (54%) of the cows had normal calving while 46% were assisted. Amongst the assisted calving, 89% of the calves survived while 11% died. The age, parity and dam body condition had significant effect ( P< 0.01) on calving ease of the dams. Calving ease increased with age, parity and body condition of the dam. The effect of sex of calf, season and year of calving on calving ease was significant ( P<0.01). The female bearing dams had higher calving ease (73%) than the male bearing ones (37%).The male bearing dams recorded the highest percentage (63%) of assisted calving with 46% mortality, while their female counterpart recorded none. Calving ease was highest during the late wet (72%) followed by the late dry (62%) and early wet (57%). The sire breed had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the number of insemination per conception but significantly influenced gestation length. Dam breed origin significantly (<0.05) influenced number of insemination and gestation length. The male calves had significantly (P<0.01) higher body weight than their female counterparts. Season of calving had significant (P<0.05) influence on birth weight,3 and 24 months body weight but not on weaning weight, 6, 12 and 18 month body weight. Birth weight, weaning age,12 months weight,18months weight gain increased with parity up to parity 3 and then declined. Age of dam had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the weight characteristics except at 3 and 24 months of age. Sire breed origin significantly (p<0.01- 0.05) influenced the body weight of the crossbred calves from 3 to 24 months of age. Dam breed had significant (p<0.01-0.05) effect on weight at 3 and 6 months of age of calves. Sire breed significantly (P<0.05) influenced weaning weight but not birth weight and weaning age of the calves. Sire-Dam breed combinations significantly (p<0.01-0.05) influenced the body weight characteristics of calves from 3 to 24 months of age. Generally, the correlation amongst the body weight characteristics was positive except between weaning age and weight at 6 and 12 month of age, respectively.The coefficient of determination (R2) for the estimation of the body weight using birth weight ranged from 14% to 41%, while that of the weaning weight ranged from 0% to 58%.Therefore, results of this study on Bos taurus cattle and their crosses ( Bos Taurus x Bos indicus) showed that age, parity, body condition score (BCS), sex, season and year of calving as well as sire and dam breed origin, and sire-dam breed combination of Bos taurus and Bos indicus had significant effect on calving ease, gestation length of the dam and growth characteristics of calves. Thus, these factors should be taken into consideration in any breeding programme aimed at improving the reproductive and growth performance of the indigenous cattle.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
INFLUENCE,, SIRE,, DAM BREED,, REPRODUCTIVE,, GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS,, SMALL HOLDER CATTLE HERDS,, JIGAWA STATE,, NIGERIA.
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