Effect of nocturnal grazing and supplementation on diet selection, eating time, forage intake and weight changes of cattle

Sixty-four Azawak male calves were used to study the effect of nocturnal grazing (NG) and supplementation (S) in the dry season on forage and water intake, faecal output, eating time and weight changes of cattle in the Sahel. Treatments were factorial combinations of four levels of NG (0, 2, 4 and 6 h/day) and two levels of S (0 and 608 g dry matter (DM) per animal per day). All animals were allowed to graze 10 h during the day and were weighed every 2 weeks during the 70-day experimental period. Eight oesophageally fistulated steers were used in a cross-over design to sample the diet (forage) selected during the day and at night by supplemented and non-supplemented animals. Extrusa crude protein and in vitro organic matter digestibility were not influenced by supplementation (P > 0.05). Time spent eating during the day or at night were not affected by supplementation but total eating time increased by 39.4 (s.e. 2.1) min/h of NG. Forage intake increased with increase in NG, while total food intake (forage supplement) increased with supplementation (82.4 v. 92.1 (s.e. 2.4) g DM per kg M0.75 per day). The supplemented animals also drank more water than the non-supplemented (26.2 v. 24.8 l per animal per day). Average live-weight change (LWC) increased by 24.4 (s.e. 8.7) and 9.3 (s.e. 6.2) g/h of NG in non-supplemented and supplemented animals, respectively. Supplementation improved LWC (-107 v. 99 g/day, s.e. 14, P < 0.05). Night grazing improves dry season performance and its effect decreases when cattle are supplemented

Evaluation technique et economique des formules alimentaires de blocs multi nutritionnels d’embouche ovine au Niger

L’essai conduit en 75 j à la station de recherche de Kollo visait l’évaluation des performances de croissance des béliers nourris avec 5 formules alimentaires à base des ressources locales associées au tourteau de coton et son de blé. Le matériel biologique était constitué de 50 béliers de race Ara-Ara, âgés de 18 à 24 mois et de poids moyen de 25,00 ±3,02 kg. Les rations ont été distribuées en 2 repas/jour et les refus ont été collectés chaque jour. La pesée des béliers a été faite par quinzaine en 2 jours successifs. Les prix des différents ingrédients ont été suivis sur les marchés de Kollo et Niamey durant l’essai. Les GMQ obtenus étaient de 95g/j pour la formule 1 ; 79 g/j pour la formule 2 ; 59 g/j pour la formule 3 ; 118 g/j pour la formule 4 et 75g/j pour la formule 5. Les meilleures performances ont été réalisées par les béliers ayant reçu les formules 1 et 4, avec des marges nettes/ bélier de 4623 FCFA pour la formule 1 et 4763 FCFA pour la formule 4. Les formules 4, 1 et 2, ayant été les plus rentables, sont recommandées aux emboucheurs et fabricants d’aliments pour le bétail.Mots clés: Blocs multi-nutritionnels, embouche, ovins, performancesEnglish Title: Technical and economical evaluation of feeds blocks in sheep fattening in NigerEnglish AbstractA ram’s feeding trial was conducted at Kollo Regional Center for Agricultural Research, with the objective to evaluate growth performance of Ara-Ara breed rams fed 5 feed formulas based on local feedstuffs associated with cottonseed meal and wheat bran. They were 50 Ara Ara breed rams old from18 to 24 months with an average weight of 25 ± 3.02 kg. Rams were allotted into 5 treatments (feed formulas, FF1 to FF5) with ten animals/treatment. Rams were dewormed, vaccinated and kept in individual pens for 75 days. Animals were fed 2 times/day and refusals collected daily. Sheep were weighted two-weekly during 2 successive days. Ingredient prices and labor cost were collected at Kollo and Niamey during the test period, for the economic evaluation. ADG was 95 for FF1, 79 for FF2, 59 for FF3, 118 for FF4 and 75g/day for FF5. Best ADG and feed conversion were achieved by rams fed FF4 and FF1. Results showed that best net margins/ram were 4,763 FCFA for formula 4 and 4,459 FCFA for formula 1. The best rate for financial and economic profitability was for formulas 4, 1 and 2 which. Consequently, farmers and feed processors can use formulas 4, 1 and 2.Keywords: Fattening, sheep, multi-nutritional blocks, performanc

Mortalité et performances de reproduction chez le zébu Azaouak à la station de Toukounous, Niger (1986-1992)

La mortalité et les performances de reproduction de zébus Azaouak ont été étudiées à partir des archives de la sation de Toukounous au Niger. La mortalité a été relevée sur l'ensemble des animaux au cours des années 1986 à 1992. Les performances de reproduction ont été établies à partir de la carrière des 296 vaches présentes au 15 mai 1993, et nées entre 1976 et 1992. Le taux de mortalité globale moyen était de 4,9 p. 100. Le taux de mortalité des jeunes de moins de 12 mois était de 8,5 p. 100. Les vêlages étaient répartis régulièrement tout au long de l'année. L'âge moyen au premier vêlage (A1V) des génisses nées au cours de la période 1981-1990 a diminué de 1 354 plus ou moins 37 à 1 020 plus ou moins 30 jours, avec une moyenne de 1 108 plus ou moins 125,1 jours. L'intervalle moyen entre les vêlages (IV) des vaches nées de 1981 et 1988 a décru de 432 plus ou moins 33 à 362 plus ou moins 67 jours, avec une moyenne de 424,4 plus ou moins 87,9 jours. Le mois, l'année de naissance et le poids à 18 mois avaient un effet significatif (P inférieur à 0,0001) sur l'A1V, alors que seul le range de vêlage avait un effet significatif sur l'IV (P inférieur à 0,0001). Le taux de fécondité s'est élevé, en moyenne, à 78 p. 100 pour la période 1987 à 1992. L'amélioration des paramètres de reproduction a eu lieu à partir de 1986, c'est-à-dire au moment où la modification du système d'élevage, initiée au moment de la sécheresse de 1984, en particulier la diminution de la charge sur le pâturage, a commencé à porter ses fruits. (Résumé d'auteur

Mortalité et performances de reproduction chez le zébu Azaouak à la station de Toukounous, Niger (1986-1992)

La mortalité et les performances de reproduction de zébus Azaouak ont été étudiées à partir des archives de la sation de Toukounous au Niger. La mortalité a été relevée sur l'ensemble des animaux au cours des années 1986 à 1992. Les performances de reproduction ont été établies à partir de la carrière des 296 vaches présentes au 15 mai 1993, et nées entre 1976 et 1992. Le taux de mortalité globale moyen était de 4,9 p. 100. Le taux de mortalité des jeunes de moins de 12 mois était de 8,5 p. 100. Les vêlages étaient répartis régulièrement tout au long de l'année. L'âge moyen au premier vêlage (A1V) des génisses nées au cours de la période 1981-1990 a diminué de 1 354 plus ou moins 37 à 1 020 plus ou moins 30 jours, avec une moyenne de 1 108 plus ou moins 125,1 jours. L'intervalle moyen entre les vêlages (IV) des vaches nées de 1981 et 1988 a décru de 432 plus ou moins 33 à 362 plus ou moins 67 jours, avec une moyenne de 424,4 plus ou moins 87,9 jours. Le mois, l'année de naissance et le poids à 18 mois avaient un effet significatif (P inférieur à 0,0001) sur l'A1V, alors que seul le range de vêlage avait un effet significatif sur l'IV (P inférieur à 0,0001). Le taux de fécondité s'est élevé, en moyenne, à 78 p. 100 pour la période 1987 à 1992. L'amélioration des paramètres de reproduction a eu lieu à partir de 1986, c'est-à-dire au moment où la modification du système d'élevage, initiée au moment de la sécheresse de 1984, en particulier la diminution de la charge sur le pâturage, a commencé à porter ses fruits. (Résumé d'auteur

Résultats de l'amélioration génétique en race Azawak à la Station de Toukounous au Niger

peer reviewe

Effect of timing and duration of grazing of growing cattle in the West African Sahel on diet selection, faecal output, eating time, forage intake and live-weight changes and nutrition and performance of cattle

Sixty-four Azawak male weaned calves were allotted to eight treatments (T) in two trials to study the effect of timing (day or day-and-night) and duration of grazing on diet selection, faecal output, eating time, forage intake and weight changes. Grazing time during the day was 6 h for T 1, 2 and 3; 9 h for T 4, 5 and 6; and 12 h for T 7 and 8. Night grazing time was 0 h for T 1, 4 and 7; 3 h for T 2, 5 and 8; and 6 h for T 3 and 6. The trials were conducted from July 1995 to May 1996 covering the wet (WS), early dry (EDS) and late dry (LDS) seasons. Eight oesophageally fistulated steers were used in a cross-over design to sample the diet selected by day-grazers (D1) and by day-and-night-grazers during the day (D2) and at night (N2). Forage intake was determined from individual data on faecal output from all the calves and means of in vitro organic matter digestibility of extrusa of the fistulated steers. Water intake and eating time were measured in LDS. In WS there were no differences (P &gt; 0?05) in the quality of the diet (extrusa) selected for D1, D2 and N2. In LDS, crude protein content for D1 was lower than for D2 (73 v. 79 (s.e. 2) g/kg dry matter, P &lt; 0?05). In all seasons, faecal output and forage intake increased with total duration of grazing. Total time spent eating increased linearly with increasing total time allowed for grazing. These results suggest that allowing additional grazing time during the night leads to increased forage intake and consequently provides an opportunity for better animal production, especially in the dry seaso

Effect of timing and duration of grazing of growing cattle in the West African Sahel on diet selection, faecal output, eating time, forage intake and live-weight changes and nutrition and performance of cattle

Sixty-four Azawak male weaned calves were allotted to eight treatments (T) in two trials to study the effect of timing (day or day-and-night) and duration of grazing on diet selection, faecal output, eating time, forage intake and weight changes. Grazing time during the day was 6 h for T 1, 2 and 3; 9 h for T 4, 5 and 6; and 12 h for T 7 and 8. Night grazing time was 0 h for T 1, 4 and 7; 3 h for T 2, 5 and 8; and 6 h for T 3 and 6. The trials were conducted from July 1995 to May 1996 covering the wet (WS), early dry (EDS) and late dry (LDS) seasons. Eight oesophageally fistulated steers were used in a cross-over design to sample the diet selected by day-grazers (D1) and by day-and-night-grazers during the day (D2) and at night (N2). Forage intake was determined from individual data on faecal output from all the calves and means of in vitro organic matter digestibility of extrusa of the fistulated steers. Water intake and eating time were measured in LDS. In WS there were no differences (P > 0?05) in the quality of the diet (extrusa) selected for D1, D2 and N2. In LDS, crude protein content for D1 was lower than for D2 (73 v. 79 (s.e. 2) g/kg dry matter, P < 0?05). In all seasons, faecal output and forage intake increased with total duration of grazing. Total time spent eating increased linearly with increasing total time allowed for grazing. These results suggest that allowing additional grazing time during the night leads to increased forage intake and consequently provides an opportunity for better animal production, especially in the dry season

Effect of nocturnal grazing and supplementation on diet selection, eating time, forage intake and weight changes of cattle

Sxity-four Azawak male calves were used to study the effect of nocturnal grazing (NG) and supplementation (S) in the dry season on forage and water intake, faecal output, eating time and weight changes of cattle in the Sahel. Treatments were factorial combinations of four levels of NG (0, 2, 4 and 6 h/day) and two levels of S (0 and 608 g dry matter (DM) per animal per day). All animals were allowed to graze 10 h during the day and were weighed every 2 weeks during the 70-day experimental period. Eight oesophageally fistulated steers were used in a cross-over design to sample the diet (forage) selected during the day and at night by supplemented and non-supplemented animals. Extrusa crude protein and in vitro organic matter digestibility were not influenced by supplementation (P>0.05). Time spent eating during the day or at night were not affected by supplementation but total eating time increased by 39.4 (s.e. 2.1) min/h of NG. Forage intake increased with increase in NG, while total food intake (forage + supplement) increased with supplementation (82.4 02.1 (s.e. 2.4) g DM per kg M0.75 per day). The supplemented animals also drank more water than the non-supplemented (26.2 24.8 1per animal per day). Average live-weight change (LWC) increased by 24.4 (s.e. 8.7) and 9.3 (s.e. 6.2) g/h of NG in non-supplemented and supplemented animals, respectively. Supplementation improved LWC (-107 99 g/day, s.e. 14, P<0.05). Night grazing improves dry season performance and its effect decreases when cattle are supplemented