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 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 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 postpartum
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 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.
