title: 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. Pre-partum 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 supplementation 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 pre-partum 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 pre-partum 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 production 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, P O Box 2067, Yaounde, Cameroon, hbayemi@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Pougue Henri
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bayemi
authors.forename: Munji Victorine
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Nsongka
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leinyuy
authors.forename: Edward Cottington
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Justin Mbanya
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nchadji
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavestany
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000780:Anestrus; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon; D002417:Cattle; D003369:Cottonseed Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011374:Progesterone / Q000737:chemistry*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000737:chemistry; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D003369:Cottonseed Oil; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011374:Progesterone