Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T04:28:42.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Long-term response to feeding level in lactational performance of Boran (Bos indicus) and Boran ✕ Holstein cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

A. Jenet ,
A. Yimegnuhal ,
S. Fernandez-Rivera ,
A. Tegegne ,
P.O. Osuji ,
G. McCrabb  and
M. Kreuzer
A. Jenet
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Institute of Animal Science Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), ETH Centre/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
A. Yimegnuhal
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
S. Fernandez-Rivera
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A. Tegegne
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
P.O. Osuji
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
G. McCrabb
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
M. Kreuzer*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), ETH Centre/LFW, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
*
†Corresponding author. E-mail:michael.kreuzer@inw.agrl.ethz.ch
Get access

Abstract

In an experiment lasting from 1.5 years before first calving until third parturition, 24 purebred indigenous Bos indicus (Boran) cows and 24 Boran crosses with Holstein (proportionately 0.50 and 0.75 Holstein blood level) were given a diet composed of Bermuda grass hay and wheat bran (0.65: 0.35) offered at low, medium and high level. This level was adapted in amount to actual body weight every 2nd week corresponding to assumed 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 times maintenance energy requirements. Cows were subjected to working exercise before and after first parturition. Body weight differences (lower with low and medium feeding level) developed mostly before calving for the first time and showed the typical decline at the start of lactation and increase in the dry period. Additionally, Boran cows given the high level increased their body weight from the first to the second lactation cycle. Body condition scores were higher in the Boran cows and, in both genotypes, with high feeding level. Independent of feeding level and genotype, calving intervals in cycles 1 and 2 were 530 and 421 days, respectively. Lactation length was considerably shorter in the Boran cows than in the crossbred cows. Milk yield, calculated over the first 13 weeks of lactation and over the whole lactation in both cycles, was 2.06 and 3.06 times higher in the crossbreds than in the Boran. Milk of Boran cows had 1.30, 1.15 and 1.20 times higher contents of fat, total solids and protein. In the first 13 weeks of lactation, milk yield of crossbreds with high feeding level (8.7 kg/day) was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the crossbreds with medium (6.5 kg/day) and low feeding level (5.4 kg/day), respectively. Boran cows never showed a significant response in milk yield to feeding level. Accordingly, the amount of organic matter intake required per kg milk increased with feeding level in the Boran cows while it remained unaffected in the crossbreds. Organic matter digestibility, as measured in lactation cycle 1, was higher (P < 0.01) in Boran. Response to high feeding level and estimated maintenance requirements of crossbred cows corresponded with current assumptions, but crossbreds subjected to medium feeding level expressed unexpectedly little difference from those receiving the low level. It seems that current recommendations are not generally applicable to indigenous tropical breeds as these responded differently from crossbreds to feeding level.

Keywords

crossbredsdairy cowstropical Africaundernutritionzebu
Type
Ruminant nutrition, behaviour and production
Information
Animal Science , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 331 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agricultural and Food Research Council. 1993. Energy and protein requirements of ruminants. CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Alberro, M. 1983. Comparative performance of F1 Friesian ✕ zebu heifers in Ethiopia. Animal Production 37: 247–252.Google Scholar
Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1990. Official methods of analyses. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Bebe, B. O., Udo, H. M. J., Rowlands, G. J. and Thorpe, W. 2003. Smallholder dairy systems in Kenya highlands: cattle population dynamics under increasing intensification. Livestock Production Science 82: 211–221.Google Scholar
British Standards Institution. 1989. Determination of fat content of milk and milk products (Gerber method). Specification for apparatus. BS 696-1: 1989. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
British Standards Institution. 1990. Methods for chemical analysis of liquid milk and cream. Determination of content of liquid milk, cream and unsweetened condensed milk. BS 1741-2: 1990. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Burrin, D. B., Ferrell, C. L., Britton, R. A. and Bauer, M. 1990. Level of nutrition and visceral organ size and metabolic activity in sheep. British Journal of Nutrition 64: 439–448.Google Scholar
Chilliard, Y., Bocquier, F. and Doreau, M. 1998. Digestive and metabolic adaptations of ruminants to undernutrition, and consequences on reproduction. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 38: 131–152.Google Scholar
Combellas, J., Tesorero, M. and Gabaldon, L. 2003. Effect of calf stimulation during milking and milk yield and fat content of Bos indicus ✕ Bos taurus cows. Livestock Production Science 79: 227–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cossins, N. J. and Upton, M. 1987. The Borana pastoral system of Southern Ethiopia. Agricultural Systems 25: 199–218.Google Scholar
Ferrell, C. L. and Jenkins, T. G. 1998. Body composition and energy utilization by steers of diverse genotypes fed a high concentrate diet during finishing period. II. Angus, Boran, Brahman, Hereford and Tuli steers. Journal of Animal Science 76: 647–657.Google Scholar
Gemeda, T., Zerbini, E., Wold, A. G. and Demissie, D. 1995. Effect of draught work on performance and metabolism of crossbred cows. 1. Effect of work and diet on body-weight change, body condition, lactation and productivity. Animal Science 60: 361–367.Google Scholar
Gonfa, A., Foster, H. A. and Holzapfel, W. H. 2001. Field survey and literature review on traditional fermented milk products of Ethiopia. International Journal of Food Microbiology 68: 173–186.Google Scholar
Grimaud, P., Richard, D., Kanwé, A., Durier, C. and Doreau, M. 1998. Effect of undernutrition and refeeding on digestion in Bos taurus and Bos indicus in a tropical environment. Animal Science 67: 49–58.Google Scholar
Haile-Mariam, M. and Kassa-Mersha, H. 1994. Genetic and environmental effects on age at first calving and calving interval of naturally bred Boran (zebu) cows in Ethiopia. Animal Production 58: 329–334.Google Scholar
Hotovi, S. K., Johnson, K. A., Johnson, D. E., Carstens, G. E., Bourdon, R. M. and Seidel, G. E. 1991. Variation among twin beef cattle in maintenance energy requirements. Journal of Animal Science 69: 940–946.Google Scholar
Jenet, A., Fernandez Rivera, S., McCrabb, G. J., Tegegne, A., Kreuzer, M., Yimegnuhal, A. and Osuji, P. O. 2002. Conversion of digestible organic matter into weight gain by Boran and Boran ✕ Holstein heifers in different physiological states. In Responding to the increasing global demand for animal products. Conference summaries (ed. British Society of Animal Science), pp. 208–209 (abstr.). http://www.bsas.org.uk/meetings/archiv.htmGoogle Scholar
Kearl, L. C. 1982. Nutrient requirements of ruminants in developing countries. International Feedstuffs Institute, Logan, Utah.Google Scholar
Ledger, H. P. 1977. The utilization of dietary energy by steers during period of restricted food intake and subsequent realimentation. 2. The comparative energy requirements of penned and exercised steers for long term maintenance at constant live weight. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 88: 27–33.Google Scholar
Lindtjorn, B., Alemu, T. and Bjorvatn, B. 1993. Dietary pattern and state of nutrition among children in drought-prone areas of Southern Ethiopia. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics 13: 21–32.Google Scholar
Martin, P. C. and Garcia, R. 1995. Growth of 3⁄4 Zebu 1⁄4 Holstein males under grazing. Energy balance and maintenance requirements. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science 29: 305–310.Google Scholar
Michalet-Doreau, B. and Doreau, M. 2001. Influence of drastic underfeeding on ruminal digestion in sheep. Animal Research 50: 451–462.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1987. Energy allowances and feeding systems for ruminants. ADAS Reference Book 433, second edition. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Mukasa-Mugerwa, E., Anindo, D., Lahlou-Kassi, A., Umunna, N. N. and Tegegne, A. 1997. Effect of body condition and energy utilization on the lenght of post-partum anoestrus in PRID-treated and untreated post-partum Bos indicus (zebu) cattle. Animal Science 65: 17–24.Google Scholar
National Research Council. 2000. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle, seventh revised edition. National Academic Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
National Research Council. 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle, seventh revised edition. National Academic Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Nicholson, M. J. and Butterworth, M. H. 1986. A guide to condition scoring of zebu cattle. International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Olaloku, E. A. and Oyenuga, V. A. 1974. Observations on the White Fulani (Bunaji) zebu cattle of northern Nigeria in a southern Nigeria environment. III. Feed intake, yield and composition of milk of cows fed supplementary concentrates on pasture. East African Agriculture and Forestry Journal 39: 103–110.Google Scholar
Ortigues, I., Petit, M. and Agabriel, J. 1993. Influence of body condition on maintenance energy requirements of Charolais cows. Animal Production 57: 47–53.Google Scholar
Reid, C. R., Baily, C. M. and Judkins, M. B. 1991. Metabolizable energy for maintenance of beef type Bos taurus and Bos indicus ✕ Bos taurus cows in dry, temperate climate. Journal of Animal Science 69: 2779–2786.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schopper, D. and Claus, R. 1989. Dynamik der Progesteronkonzentration im Fettgewebe, peripheren Blut und Milchfett von Milchkühen: Zusammenhang mit dem Phänomen der stillen Brunst. Zuchthygiene 60: 178–179.Google Scholar
Scott, R. 1986. Cheese making practice, second edition. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London.Google Scholar
Solis, J. C., Byers, F. M., Schelling, G. T., Long, C. R. and Greene, L. W. 1988. Maintenance requirements and energy efficiency of cows of different breed types. Journal of Animal Science 66: 764–773.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 2001. SAS/STAT user’s guide: statistics, version 8. 12. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Sumberg, J. 2002. Livestock nutrition and foodstuff research in Africa: when is a nutritional constraint not a priority research problem? Animal Science 75: 332–338.Google Scholar
Tawah, C. L., Rege, J. E. O. and Aboagye-Gertrude, S. 1997. A close look at a rare African breed: The Kuri cattle of the Lake Chad Basin. Origin, distribution, production and adaptive characteristics. Suid Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Veekunde 27: 31–40.Google Scholar
Tedeshi, L. O., Boin, C., Fox, D. G., Leme, P. R., Alleoni, G. F. and Lanna, D. P. D. 2002. Energy requirement for maintenance and growth of Nelore bulls and steers fed high-forage diets. Journal of Animal Science 80: 1671–1682.Google Scholar
Zerbini, E., Wold, A. G. and Gemeda, T. 1996. Effect of dietary repletion on reproductive activity in cows after a long anoestrus period. Animal Science 62: 217–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar