Haya: The Saudi Journal of Life Sciences (SJLS)
Volume-3 | Issue-06 | 474-480
Original Research Article
Growth Performance at Weaning of Borgou Cattle in Northern Benin
Hilaire Sorébou SANNI WOROGO, Yaya IDRISSOU, Alassan ASSANI SEIDOU, Brice Gérard Comlan ASSOGBA, Ibrahim ALKOIRET TRAORE
Published : June 30, 2018
Abstract
This study focused on the analysis of birth weight (BW), weaning weight
(WW), weaning age (WA) and average daily gain (ADG) between birth and weaning
of 950 Borgou cattle using data over five years from the Okpara Breeding Farm. The
BW, WW, and ADG of animals including 513 males calves and 437 females calves
were determined based on the variation factors. A general linear model (GLM) was
used to determine the effects of the factors of variation: sex, season of birth, calving
number, year of birth, and birth park. The weaning age of animals was also considered
as a factor in order to determine its influence on WW and ADG. The results showed
that the average weaning age of Borgou cattle was 392.49 ± 71.51 days. The weaning
age had an effect on weaning weight and ADG of the animals. The BW and WW
ranged from 16.11 ± 0.20 kg to 22.28 ± 0.20 kg and from 107.80 ± 2.50 kg to 125.46 ±
1.17 kg, respectively. As for the ADG, it varied between 212.06 ± 7.56 kg and 330.78
± 6.47 kg. The sex, birth season, calving number, and park influenced birth weight, the
weaning weight, and the average daily gain. The year influenced the weaning weight
and the ADG (p<0.001) but had no effect on birth weight (p>0.001). Male calves
showed higher weaning weights and daily weight gains than female calves (p<0.05).
Animals born during the transition period between the rainy season and the dry season
were heavier (p<0.05). Animals from 6th calving number had the best birth weights,
the best weaning weights and the best ADGs (p<0.05).