Performance of draught cattle in communal farming areas in Zimbabwe after dry season supplementation
| Autor: | E. Hove, Joseph Francis, L.R. Ndlovu |
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| Rok vydání: | 1996 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Zimbabwe Hydroxybutyrates Nutritional Status Biology Random Allocation Food Animals Dry season Animals Urea Stover Lost Weight 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid Behavior Animal business.industry Body Weight Blood Proteins Feeding Behavior Animal Feed Agronomy Hematocrit Agriculture Creatinine Food Fortified Hay Animal Science and Zoology Cattle Seasons business Blood parameters Energy Metabolism |
| Zdroj: | Tropical animal health and production. 28(4) |
| ISSN: | 0049-4747 |
| Popis: | Sixty-four pairs of oxen owned by smallholders were randomly allocated to one of 3 supplementary treatments offered at one kg per head per day from July to October or to a control where no supplement was offered. The supplements were maize stover plus silverleaf hay (2 : 1 w/w), urea-treated maize stover (50 g urea/kg stover) and plain maize stover. Animals fed plain maize stover or no supplement lost weight (6 to 7% of initial weight), whilst those fed the other 2 supplements maintained their liveweights. Supplementation reduced time spent on feeding activities by 10 per cent. Animals fed on urea-treated maize stover or maize stover plus silverleaf hay ploughed at speeds that were 29% faster than oxen on the other treatments and covered 45% more area. Blood parameters indicated a general deficiency of nitrogen intake throughout the dry season. It was concluded that supplements of good quality have the potential to improve the working ability of communal area oxen. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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