Effect of pre-partum feed supplementation on post-partum ovarian activity, milk production and calf growth of small holder dairy Cattle in Cameroon

Abstract

Seventy-two cows were selected for an on-farm study on the effect of feed supplementation before calving on milk production, ovarian activity and calf growth of Holstein, indigenous Red Fulani cows and their crosses. Prepartum feed supplementation was done using cotton seed cake (80 %), maize (18 %), bone meal (1 %) and kitchen salt (1 % NaCl). Supplementation levels consisted of a low supplemen-tation fed at 1 kg per animal per day and high supplementation fed at 2 kg per animal per day. In addition, Red Fulani cows received the supplements in two different ways namely a prepartum supplementation consisting of 1 kg per cow per day and pre-and post-partum supplementation consisting of 1 kg per cow per day before calving and 1 kg per cow per day post-partum up to 30 days after calving. Blood samples were analysed using ELISA Progesterone kits to determine the length of post-partum anoestrus. Results show that prepartum levels of feeding did not have any effect (P>0.05) on body condition score (BCS) at 12 weeks after calving, calf birth weight, average daily weight gain of calves, milk pro-duction and post-partum anoestrus. High BCS at calving was shown to influence BCS at 12 weeks of lactation. Holstein cows had bigger calves (P<0.01) at birth (45 kg) compared to traditional cows (36 kg) and crosses (34 kg). There was little benefit of pre-partum supplementation on the parameters investigated in this study. Consequently, low income farmers are advised to concentrate their efforts of supplementation early in lactation.

A Case Study of Bear Reintroduction in Pakistan: Art and Politics in Conservation

“…Birth Weight of Calves: Increased concentrate ratio in the diet in pre-partum duration didn't change the calf birth weight which is in agreement with the previous studies (Bayemi et al, 2008). Contrary to this, Mithuna et al (2015) reported that pre-partum concentrate supplementation (2 kg/d) had higher (24.33 vs. 28.00 kg) birth weight of buffalo calves as compared to nonsupplemented group.…”

Améliorer les pratiques d’alimentation des vaches traites en saison sèche, un levier pour augmenter le revenu des éleveurs laitiers extensifs au Burkina Faso

“…Aujourd'hui, dans un contexte d'augmentation de la demande en lait, et de réduction des ressources fourragères des pâturages naturels, des compléments alimentaires en fourrage et en aliments sont indispensables. Les résultats montrent que la distribution d'aliments en complément du pâturage permet de maintenir la production laitière, comme l'ont déjà écrit d'autres auteurs (Coulibaly et al, 2007 ;Bayemi et al, 2015 ;De Ridder et al, 2015 ;Pousga et al, 2019). En matière de complémentation, la tendance générale est à l'utilisation des concentrés ; or ceux-ci sont chers pour des éleveurs laitiers extensifs.…”

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“…Estas condiciones se han atribuido principalmente al efecto del vínculo vaca-becerro que se da durante el amamantamiento (Galina et al, 2001;Crowe et al, 2014). Además, se ha observado que aunado al efecto de la presencia del becerro (como inhibidor del reinicio de la actividad ovárica posparto) durante el amamantamiento, si la vaca no tiene un manejo nutricional adecuado y/o buena condición corporal (BC), se mantendrá el estatus de inactividad ovárica después del parto, prolongando los días abiertos (Crowe, 2008;Diskin & Kenny, 2014;Bayemi et al, 2015;Stevenson et al, 2015;Diskin & Kenny, 2016).…”

“…Por lo tanto, junto con el destete temprano, es necesario ofrecer suplementos alimenticios a las vacas para disminuir o inhibir los efectos negativos que el estado nutricional y el amamantamiento ejercen sobre el desarrollo folicular y la ovulación después del parto, y que afectan la concepción temprana. Con base en lo anterior, el objetivo de este calving-to-conception (days open) (Crowe, 2008;Diskin & Kenny, 2014;Bayemi et al, 2015;Stevenson et al, 2015;Diskin & Kenny, 2016).…”