An analysis of the productivity of Muturu cattle (Bos brachyceros, a native breed with tolerance to trypanosomiasis) under ranching conditions was carried out at Raav, Benue State during 1981 to 1991. Six calving seasons occurred during this period. When the performance of the Muturu under ranching and village management conditions was compared, age at first service, age at first calving and calving interval appeared to be similar. However, calf mortality rate in the ranch herd (5%) was lower than that in the village herd (10.8%). When the productivity of the Muturu in the ranch and village herds were compared to the Bunaji, the predominant indigenous zebu cattle breed in Nigeria, the Muturu cattle were superior in age at first service, age at first calving, calving interval and calf mortality rate. These results suggest that the Muturu should be studied further with a view to enhancing their productivity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FergusonW. (1966) Grazing behaviour of dwarf cattle in Nigeria with some husbandry implications. Proceedings of the First Symposium of the Society of Veterinary Entomology, University of Edinburgh, pp. 47–50.
2.
FergusonW. (1967) Muturu cattle of Western Nigeria. II. Survivability, reproduction and growth performance in an area of light Glossina palvalis density. Journal of the West Africa Scientific Association12, 37–44.
3.
HarveyW.R. (1990) Users’ Guide for LSMLMW and MIXMDL: Mixed Model Least squares and Maximun Likelihood Computer Programme. PC-2 Version. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
4.
ILCA/FAO (1980) Trypanotolerant Livestock in West and Central Africa. Vol. 2: Country Studies. ILCA Monograph 2, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
5.
JagunA.G. (1980) Calf mortality in Shika during 1975-1979. NAPRI Seminars2, 100–110.
6.
JohnsonA.O.BuvanendranV. and OyejolaB.A. (1984) Dairy potential of Bunaji (White Fulani) dams and Bokoloji (Sokoto Gudali) breeds. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad)61, 267–268.
7.
KapuM.M. (1975) The natural forages of Northern Nigeria. I. Nitrogen and mineral composition of grasses and browse from the Northern Guinea Savanna and standing hays from the different savanna zones. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production2, 235–246.
8.
ManiR.I. (1992) Optimal utilization of legume fodder banks and low quality roughages by grazing cattle. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic 3052, Australia.
9.
OlutogunO. (1976) Reproductive performance and growth of N'dama and Keteku cattle under ranching conditions in the Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, 292.
10.
OrjiB.I.IgboeliG. and NwakalorL.N. (1984) Semen characteristics of Muturu cattle — Bos brachyceros. Theriogenology22, 197–203.
11.
OtchereE.O. (1986) Traditional cattle production in the subhumid zone of Nigeria. In: Livestock Systems Research in Nigeria's Subhumid Zone. Proceedings of the Second ILCA/NAPRI Symposium, Kaduna, Nigeria, pp. 110–140.
12.
OyedipeE.O.BuvanendranV. and EduvieL. O. (1982) Some factors affecting the reproductive performance of White Fulani (Bunaji) cattle. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad)59, 231–233.
13.
OyedipeE.O.SarorD.OsoriD.I.K. and AkerejolaO. (1984) Haematologic parameters of zebu cattle on different protein levels and their relation to rate of gain. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa32, 129–136.
14.
PullanN.B. (1980) Productivity of White Fulani cattle on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. 2. Nutritional factors. Tropical Animal Health and Production12, 17–24.
15.
RIM (1992) Nigerian National Livestock Survey. Report by Resource Inventory and Management Ltd UK for the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services, New Secretariat, Abuja, Nigeria.
16.
RobertsC.J. and GrayA.R. (1973) Studies on trypanosome-resistant cattle. 1. The breeding and growth performance of N'dama, Muturu and Zebu cattle maintained under the same conditions of husbandry. Tropical Animal Health and Production5, 211–219.
17.
UzaD.V. (1995) Evaluation of the performance of Muturu cattle under the traditional village management system in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Benue State, Nigeria. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
18.
WheatJ.D. and BroadhurstJ. (1968) An analysis of data on Bunaji cattle at the Shika Research Station, North Central State, Nigeria. Samaru Miscellaneous PaperNo. 25.
19.
WheatJ.D. de LeeuwP.N. and KochB.A.(1972) Bunaji cattle at the Shika Research Station, North Central State, Nigeria. Samaru Miscellaneous PaperNo. 41.
20.
ZakariA.Y.MolokwuE.C.I. and OsoriD.I.K. (1981) Effect of season on the oestrus cycle of cows (Bos indicus) indigenous to Northen Nigeria. Veterinary Record108, 213–215.
