Change in growth performance of crossbred (Ankole × Jersey) dairy heifers fed on forage grass diets supplemented with commercial concentrates

Mutimura, Mupenzi; Ebong, Cyprian; Rao, Idupulapati M.; Nsahlai, I. V.

doi:10.1007/s11250-016-1019-4

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The dry seasons extend between June and August (LDS) and January to February (SDS). The mean annual rainfall was 1087 mm and average temperature of 20.1 °C, with relative humidity of 77% (Mutimura et al 2016 ). The natural grass is predominantly composed of Brachiaria decumbens and limited planted multipurpose trees like Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephala .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth traits of crossbreds of Ankole with Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Sahiwal cattle in Rwanda

Manzi

Rydhmer

Ntawubizi

et al. 2017

Trop Anim Health Prod

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The objective of the study was to compare body weights and growth from birth to 18 months of age of various groups of crossbred cattle born from 1999 to 2007, being crossbreds of Ankole (A) with Brown Swiss (B), Holstein Friesian (F), Jersey (J), and Sahiwal (S). Average weights were 26.5 kg at birth, 161 kg at weaning, and 226 kg at 18 months. Both season and sex significantly affected birth weight (BW), weight at 8 and 18 months (W8 and W18), and average daily gain from weaning to 18 months (ADG18) and, unlike season, sex significantly affected average daily gain to 8 months and weaning age. The general trend was that average daily gain attained a maximum before weaning and thereafter decreased until 18 months. Least square means for AB and AF calves were comparable and significantly differed only for W18 and ADG18. AJ had the lowest BW but was comparable with AS, AJxS, and ASxJ for W8, age-adjusted weaning weight, and W18. Generally, AF was heavier than other breed groups, but the difference was smaller than expected probably because environmental conditions did not allow full expression of genetic potential for growth.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth traits of crossbreds of Ankole with Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Sahiwal cattle in Rwanda

Manzi

Rydhmer

Ntawubizi

et al. 2017

Trop Anim Health Prod

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“…The Climate-smart Brachiaria Program (2012–2016) evaluated several improved Urochloa cultivars for adaptation, agronomy, and livestock performance in the East Africa. Urochloa grass when fed to livestock increased milk production in between 15–40% and there was over 50% increase in body weight in heifers 19 , 20 . Due to an excellent adaptation, desirable agronomic attributes, and substantial benefits to livestock productivity there is high demand for Urochloa grass from farmers, therefore many livestock development initiatives in the region have been promoting improved Urochloa grass.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality assessment of Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) seeds produced in Cameroon

Clémence-Aggy

Ntchapda

Raphaël

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) is the most popular fodder of livestock farmers in Cameroon for hay and seed productions. Farmers in Cameroon have been producing Brachiaria seeds for decades for own uses and surplus are sold to neighbours, and to traders from Cameroon and neighbouring countries. However, there is no information available about qualities of these seeds. Fifteen Urochloa seeds samples were collected from farmers and/or government stations in five regions (Adamaoua, East, North, North West, and West) and analysed for major seed quality parameters along with seeds of improved Urochloa cultivar Basilisk imported from Brazil as a check. Study showed significant differences among treatments for various seed quality parameters tested (P < 0.0001). The highest thousand grains weight was recorded in Basilisk (5.685 g), followed by W12 (3.555 g), A05 (3.153 g) and N01 (2.655 g). Caryopsis number and caryopsis weight were highest in Basilisk followed by E09, A06, and W12. Of three conditions tested for seed germination, mean germination was the highest in greenhouse (7.39%) where Basilisk had the highest germination (25.5%) followed by N01 (18.50%), A05 (14.50%) and W12 (12.75%). The seed viability ranged from 18% (E09) to 81% (N01), and there were a positive and highly significant relationships between seed germination and viability traits (r = 0.883; P < 0.0001). This study showed a marked difference in seed quality parameters of Urochloa grass seeds produced in Cameroon, and the potential of developing Urochloa grass seed business in the Northern, Adamaoua and Western regions of Cameroon.

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“…Within a very short period, Brachiaria grass has become a forage of choice for many livestock farmers on the continent to address challenges, including shortage of livestock feeds, poor nutritive value of local forages, extended and frequent drought, and declining productivity of extensively cultivated Napier grass (Ghimire et al 2015;Negawo et al 2017). The importance of Brachiaria grass as an additional forage option in Sub Saharan Africa to improve livestock productivity through improving supply of quality herbage have been established recently (Mutimura et al 2016;Njarui et al 2016;Mutimura et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2013, eight improved Brachiaria cultivars were introduced and evaluated for adaptation and biomass yield in different agro-ecological zones (Ghimire et al 2015). These cultivars were successfully integrated into mixed crop-livestock system that subsequently improved forage availability and livestock productivity (Mutimura et al 2016;Mutimura et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of improved Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass cultivars to foliar diseases and their agronomic performances in Rwanda

Uzayisenga

Mutimura

Muthomi

et al. 2021

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

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This is the final version of the article that is published ahead of the print and online issue Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass is one of the most important tropical forages distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern and western hemispheres (Renvoize et al. 1996). Brachiaria grass possess several characteristics of agricultural and environmental significance, such as high biomass yield, nutritious to livestock, drought and shade tolerance, soil fertility improvement, high nutrient use efficiency, mitigation of the climate change adversity and effective bioagents for pests and parasitic weed management (Subbarao et al. 2009;Maass et al. 2015;Khan et al. 2016). The genus Brachiaria consists of approximately 100 species, of which seven perennial species of African origin have been exploited for fodder production, and they have been cultivated in Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, and South America at various scales (Stür et al. 1996;Jank et al. 2014). Brachiaria species are a common and valuable constituent of natural vegetation in East Africa (Boonman 1993), but their use as sown pasture for animal production is very recent in the region (Maass et al. 2015;Njarui et al. 2016). A broad adaptation, excellent animal performances and high biomass yields are among the major factors that promote a wider and rapid adoption of Brachiaria grass across the tropics and subtropics. However, the productivity of Brachiaria grass is affected by different abiotic and biotic factors, including diseases causing high yield losses (Nzioki et al. 2016; Hernandez et al. 2017). Diseases of Brachiaria grass, their symptoms, geographical distribution, and management options have been reviewed by Valerio et al. (1996). These diseases have negative impact on livestock productivity, because they reduce forage yields and quality.Brachiaria grass is one of the preferred forages by livestock keepers in Rwanda and in other East African countries (Mutimura and Everson 2012;Maass et al. 2015). As mentioned earlier, diseases are among the major biotic constraints of Brachiaria grass production, and diseases, such as leaf rust, leaf spot, and leaf blight are reported to cause economic loss (Lenné and Trutman 1994;Miles et al. 1996;Rao et al. 1996;Alvarez et al. 2014;Maass et al. 2015). For instance, leaf rust can cause up to 100% yield loss, reduces leaf crude protein content to between 49 and 53% and subsides availability of other nutrients (Lenné and Trutman 1994). Similarly, leaf blight reduces forage biomass yield by approximately 50% in the tropics (Alvarez et al. 2013). Recent studies have shown widespread distribution of leaf rust, leaf spot, and leaf blight diseases in Kenya and Rwanda (Nzioki et al. 2016;Uzayisenga et al. 2020). Therefore, sustainability of Brachiaria grass production in Africa relies on how well these diseases are managed.Many pastures including Brachiaria grass are considered low-value crops, often cultivated in large acreage and management of diseases using chemical is too costly and

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Change in growth performance of crossbred (Ankole × Jersey) dairy heifers fed on forage grass diets supplemented with commercial concentrates

Cited by 9 publications

References 21 publications

Growth traits of crossbreds of Ankole with Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Sahiwal cattle in Rwanda

Growth traits of crossbreds of Ankole with Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Sahiwal cattle in Rwanda

Quality assessment of Urochloa (syn. Brachiaria) seeds produced in Cameroon

Response of improved Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass cultivars to foliar diseases and their agronomic performances in Rwanda

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