Growth and reproductive traits of Friesian X Sanga crossbred cattle in the Accra plains of Ghana

The typical cattle production system in Ghana is predominantly pasture-based. Cattle are grazed all year round on natural pastures with minimal feed supplementation. The animals kept in this production system often experience inadequate nutrition and fluctuating nutrient supply affecting their productivity. There is presently limited information on the growth and reproductive performance of the Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle (Plate 1) and factors influencing these performance traits. The growth and reproductive performance records of 150 Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle, kept at the Animal Research Institute station in the Accra Plains of Ghana from April 1993 to October 2009 were evaluated to determine the effect of parity of cow, season of calving and sex of calf on birth weight, weaning weight, growth rate, age at first calving and calving interval. The birth weight and weaning weights of the calves averaged 21.8 ± 0.5 kg and 94.2 ± 3.8 kg, respectively, and were not (P > 0.05) affected by sex of calf, parity of cow or season of calving. Parity of cow affected (P < 0.05) weight of calf at 12 months. Calf weight at 12 and 18 months averaged 128.0 ± 3.4 kg and 159.9 ± 4.5 kg, respectively. Pre-weaning and post-weaning average daily gains were 0.33 ± 0.02 kg/day and 0.23 ± 0.03 kg/day, respectively, and were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by sex of calf, parity of cow or season of calving. The mean age at first calving was 41.2 ± 1.2 months. Calving interval was prolonged averaging 441.6 ± 10.3 days and was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by parity of cow. Calving interval decreased with increasing parity of cow. The age at first calving and calving interval were not (P > 0.05) affected by either sex of calf or season of calving. The growth and reproductive performance of the Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle was less than optimum. Improving their nutrition could impact, positively, on their productivity through fast growth, increased milk yield and early resumption of ovarian cycles after calving. Thus, results from this study should guide the development of appropriate strategies for increased meat and milk production in Friesian x Sanga crossbred cattle.Keywords: Cattle, grazing, growth, pasture, reproductionAfrican Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 13 No 2, April 201

Characterization of peri-urban dairy production system in Ghana. 1. Social attributes and characteristics of the production environmen

A survey was carried out in five districts on the Accra plains to characterize the peri-urban dairy system. Results of the survey indicated that about half of the farms visited had hired herd managers who were paid in kind with milk. The Fulani ethnic group constituted 58.2 per cent of the herdsmen encountered, followed by Ga, 20.9 per cent, Ewe, 12.0 per cent, and other mixed group, 8.9 per cent. The educational level of household heads was generally low; 49.1 per cent were illiterate, 22.0 per cent had Arabic education, while 18.0 and 10.9 per cent had primary and secondary education, respectively. Utility services, namely electricity, water and telephone, were non-existent. There were little or no farm equipment and most farmers used hand dipping as a means of applying acaricide. Integration of crops and livestock production was very low. Tenancy was communal with no private grazing lands. It was concluded that the factors mentioned above were constraints to smallholder peri-urban dairy production and need to be addressed. Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.30(2) 1997: 87-9

The effect of age on haematological studies in ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Abstract Blood samples were collected from 56, 60 and 64-week old ostriches (8 birds per age group) from a private farm (Crossgee Farms) and the haematological profiles in the plasma of the birds determined. The White Blood Cells (WBC) counts significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increase in age. The WBC counts for 56-week old ostriches were higher than that for the 64-week olds (96.78 x 10 9 /L versus 84.3 x 10 9 /L), with an overall mean total count of 90.77 x 10 9 /L. The Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by age. The 64 weeks old ostriches had a higher value than the 60 weeks old ostriches (105.20 fL versus 81.29 fL). The overall mean MCV level was 94.21 fL. Lymphocyte, granulocytes, red blood cells, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), platelets, haemoglobin and packed cell volume were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by age. Results from this study demonstrate that age influences the WBC and MCV of the African Black Ostrich reared under humid tropical conditions as prevailing in Ghana

A survey on processing and marketing characteristics of peri-urban agropastoral Dairying in Ghana

A survey was conducted in five districts on the Accra plains to characterize the peri-urban dairy production system. Results from the survey indicated that farmers were keeping cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry (Guinea fowl, turkey, chicken, and duck), cattle being the only species milked. The mean flock size was 73.6 TLU with a coefficient of variation of 103 per cent. The average cattle herd size was 133. Farmers made limited use of agro-industrial by-products. Cultivation of pastures, improved fodder, and multipurpose trees was non-existent, and neither was any system of cut and carry practised. The use of concentrate and protein supplementation was also negligible. The mean length of the dry season was 5.2 1 0.7 months. Offtake was low at 8.9 per cent per annum. Replacement and calving rates were 0.7 and 0.67, respectively. The mean age at first calving and calving interval were 36 and 14.4 months, respectively. The mean lactation length was 8.5 months. There were no crossbreds of the type 'exotic W local'. The Sanga was the predominant breed of cattle and constituted over 76 per cent of cattle kept on the Accra plains. Feeding of calves was by suckling residual milk from dams after partial milking. Calves were allowed to suckle until the cow was nearly dry, leading to a long mean calf weaning age of 8.4 months. Cows were milked once daily usually in the mornings. The mean daily partial milk yield per cow was 1.55 1 0.22 l. Mean partial annual milk yield per farm was 10,040 1 2952 l. It was concluded that the system required substantial transfer of improved technologies to increase milk production. Ghana Jnl.agric. Sci Vol.32(1), 1999: 53-5

Effect of Insulin on Fever in Endotoxic Sheep

A study was conducted to determine the effect of intravenous (i.v.) administration of insulin on fever in sheep challenged with bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six castrated male Suffolkcross wethers were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatment combinations i.v: Saline control (SAL+SAL); SAL + LPS (0.06 μg kg-l BW) or various doses of insulin (I) (2, 6, 12 or 20 mU kg-l BW) + LPS (0.06 μg kg-1 BW). Serial blood samples were collected at hourly intervals for 10 h after the start of i.v injections. Glucose concentrations in the plasma were measured. Rectal temperature was monitored at the same time as for serial blood sampling. Temperatures for the saline control sheep (SAL+SAL) remained relatively constant throughout the study period ranging from 38.9 ± 0.1 to 39.1 ± 0.1ºC. The SAL+LPS treated sheep had significantly (P<0.05) elevated temperatures compared to the saline controls from 1 to 8 h post LPS injection. The sheep injected with 12mUI +LPS had significantly (P<0.05) lower body temperature compared to the SAL +LPS treated sheep from 3 to 6 h post LPS injection. Within the insulin + LPS treatment combinations the 12mUI +LPS combination was found to significantly reduce (P<0.05) body temperature in sheep to levels similar to the saline controls from 5 to 8 h after LPS injection. Sheep on the SAL+LPS or I+LPS treatments had reduced (P<0.05) glucose levels than the saline control sheep from 5 to 8 h post LPS injection. This study demonstrates the ability of insulin to reduce fever in LPS challenged sheep

A survey on live- stock and milk production characteristics of peri-urban agropastoral dairying in Ghana

A survey was conducted in five districts on the Accra plains to characterize the peri-urban dairy system. Results from the survey indicated that sale of milk (fresh or processed) by farmers as well as the amount marketed varied according to districts. A high percentage of farmers in Ga Rural (82.4 per cent), Tema (85.7 per cent), and Ewutu-Effutu-Senya (91 percent) districts which are close to marketing centres mainly sold fresh milk, while farmers in the North Tongu and Dangbe West districts farther away from marketing centres mainly sold processed milk, 76.2 and 66.7 per cent, respectively. Consumption of processed milk by farmers in the various districts was significantly (

Characterization of peri-urban dairy production in Ghana. 2. Health and other Constraints in the production system

A survey was carried out in five districts of the Accra plains to characterize the peri-urban dairy system. Results of the survey indicated that farmers were not treating their animals with anthelmintic. The use of acaricide and the control of trypanosomiasis was fairly frequent. Skin diseases, ticks, digestive diseases, and trypanosomiasis were the most important diseases affecting farmers' cattle in that order. The lack of livestock extension and the unwillingness of banks to provide credit facilities for cattle farming were identified as other factors hampering the growth of the dairy industry in Ghana. Ghana Jnl.agric. Sci Vol.31(2), 1998: 197-20

Blood metabolite concentrations and postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Sanga cows

Blood metabolite concentrations and postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Sanga cowsAn experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of concentrations of certain blood nutrient-sensitive metabolites and the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity in 16 Sanga cows (mean BCS 5). Blood samples were taken from cows from weeks 1 to 13 (90 days) postpartum, processed and the plasma progesterone concentration measured to determine the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. The cows were classified as having resumed ovarian cyclicity when a plasma progesterone concentration of ≥1.0 ng/mL was recorded for two consecutive weekly samples. Based on the resumption of ovarian activity, cows were classified as early cycling, late cycling or non-cycling. The plasma glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations recorded were similar in the early cycling, late cycling and non-cycling cows. The mean blood glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were 3.60 mmol/L, 2.47 mmol/L, 83.1 g/L, 29.9 g/L and 52.9 g/L, respectively. Plasma urea concentrations in late (6.57 ± 0.17 mmol/L) and non-cycling (6.59 ± 0.17 mmol/L) cows were higher than in the early cycling (5.99 ± 0.17 mmol/L) cows in weeks 1 to 13 postpartum. In addition, the plasma creatinine concentration in the early cycling cows was higher than in late cycling cows (101.8 ± 1.82 versus 94.0 ± 1.99 mmol/L). Cows with higher plasma concentrations of urea and lower creatinine concentrations were at risk of delayed resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. Results suggest poor nutritional status, especially energy deficiency, as a major underlying factor suppressing the postpartum resumption of ovarian cyclicity.Keywords: BCS, creatinine, cycling cows, plasma, postpartum, ure

Effect of Nutritional Status on Concentrations of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I In Milk From Holstein Cows

The effect of diet on concentrations of milk insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and their relationships with plasma IGF-I, and with somatic cell count (SCC) were evaluated in two trials. In Trial 1, 32 multi-parous Holstein cows at 4 to 5 wk of lactation received 4 different diets formulated to provide high (H) or low (L) dry matter intake (DMI) with H or L metabolisable energy (ME) density for 5 wk. Dietary treatment did not affect milk IGF-I concentrations, but concentrations were repeatable in individual cows. The intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.78 ± 0.05 and 0.73 ± 0.06 in a.m. and p.m. samples, respectively, when concentrations were measured for 7 consecutive days. The association between milk IGF-I and plasma IGF-I concentration was weaker (R2 = 0.140; P = 0.035) than the association between milk IGF-I concentrations and the natural logarithmic value (Ln) of SCC (R2 = 0.249; P = 0.004). The effects of body condition score (BCS) at calving and level of grain supplementation in early lactation on IGF-I concentrations in milk were evaluated in Trial 2 with 21 Holstein cows that grazed pasture. The BCS at calving did not affect milk IGF-I concentrations; neither did supplementation with 1 or 6 kg of grain. Milk and plasma concentrations of IGF-I were not associated (R2 = 0.002; P = 0.830), whereas the association between milk concentrations of IGF-I and Ln SCC was significant (R2= 0.342; P=0.005). Concentrations of IGF-I in milk were not a sensitive measure of dietary changes in lactating pasture-fed Holstein cows

Relationships between body condition score, milk yield, insulin-like growth factor-I concentration and resumption of ovarian activity in beef cows

A study was conducted to investigate the relationships between milk yield, body condition score (BCS), plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Sanga cows. Sixteen multiparous Sanga cows were grazed extensively on natural pasture. Cows were weighed monthly and scored for body condition weekly using a 9-point score (1= very thin and 9 = obese). Milk yield was determined daily. Blood samples were taken from cows once every week, from week 1 to 13 postpartum and processed for plasma. Resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity in cows was determined by measuring plasma progesterone concentrations from week 1 to 13 (90 days) postpartum. The cows were classified as having resumed ovarian cyclicity when progesterone concentration of .1.0 ng/mL was recorded in two consecutive weekly samples. Based on the resumption of ovarian activity, cows were classified as early cycling (. 45 days postpartum), late cycling (46-90 days postpartum) or non-cycling (no resumption by 90 days postpartum). The concentration of IGF-I was measured from week 1 to 10 in plasma samples. Results from the present study indicate that 37.5% of cows commenced ovarian cyclicity earlier, 31.25% commenced ovarian cyclicity later, while 31.25% failed to resume ovarian cyclicity within the period of study. BCS was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in early cycling (5.12) or late cycling (5.11) cows than non-cycling (4.69) cows. Milk yield was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in late cycling (1.09 } 0.01 L/day) or non-cycling (1.10 } 0.01 L/day) cows than in early cycling cows (1.02 } 0.01 L/day). Early cycling (23.2 } 1.26 ng/mL) or late cycling (19.5 } 1.38 ng/mL) cows had greater (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of IGF-I than non-cycling cows (14.7 } 1.38 ng/mL). Cows had poor metabolic status. Higher plasma concentrations of IGF-I in the early postpartum period were associated with early resumption of ovarian cyclicity in cows.Key words: Body condition score, insulin-like growth factor-I, ovarian cyclicity, Sanga co