A.G.Ageebi
Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Kadugli Research Station, Kadugli, Sudan
SUMMARY
Data collected on “Baggara” cattle, owned by transhumant tribesmen at Nuba Mountains of Western Sudan, were used to study the growth pattern of calves and to investigate the effects of sex, sire, year and season of birth on growth of these calves from birth to yearling age. The mean (± SE) birth, 205-d, and 365-d weights for male calves were 18.4±0.3, 70.5±0.7 and 90.6±0.8 kg, respectively. The corresponding values for the females were 17.2±0.3, 64.4±0.6 and 84.0±0.8 kg, respectively. The pre-weaning ADG were 0.25±0.05 and 0.23±0.04 kg for males and females, respectively, and the corresponding post-weaning ADG for the two sexes were 0:19 and 0.18 kg respectively. Sex had a significant effect (P< 0.05) on birth, weaning, and yearling weights, and on pre-weaning ADG. Male calves were born heavier at birth, weaning and yearling ages and had higher pre-weaning ADG. Male and female calves were similar in post-weaning ADG. Sire effect was significant on birth weight (P< 0.01) but had no effect on weaning and yearling weights and on pre-and post-weaning ADG (P> 0.05). Year of birth had an effect (P< 0.01) on weaning and yearling weights and on pre-weaning ADG (P< 0.01) and post-weaning ADG (P< 0.05). Season of birth had an effect (P< 0.05) on birth weight, but no effect (P> 0.05) on weaning and yearling weights and on pre-and post-weaning ADGs.
Read Full Text
Download As : PDF