Authors : A.A. Busari, J.O. Oyewale, J.A. Akinlade, M.K. Adewumi, S.O. Okunola and J.A. Alalade
Abstract: Inadequate nutrition remains a major constraint to improved cattle production in the traditional agropastoral system of derived savanna in Nigeria. Consequently, a trial to study effect of supplementary feeding of dried brewers spent grain to grazing cattle in the dry season was carried out in four selected Fulani herds located in the four axis of the derived savanna zone. In the trial, studies were carried out on eight N’dama and eight Bunaji bull calves in a 2×2 factorial arrangement of complete randomized block design. The supplement DBSG (24% CP) was fed at the rate of 1 kg/calf /day for the period of 3 months. The calves on supplementation consumed an average of 0.80 kg day–1 of the supplement. The average daily weight gains were higher for bull-calves on supplementary feeding (85/day for N’dama versus 56 g day–1 for Bunaji) than those without the supplement (17 g day–1 for N’dama versus 11 g day–1 for Bunaji). Ndama cattle gained more weight than Bunaji. Financial analysis showed that the net benefit for the two breeds fed with or without supplementation was higher for N’dama than for Bunaji. Supplementation had a significant (p<0.05) effect on animal PCV, RBC and Hb values. There were significant interaction between hematological parameters and protein intake except for leukocyte count. The study showed that dietary protein supplementation had asignificant influence on haemotogical parameters; body weight gains and the net economic returns. Thus, dry season feed supplementation with dried brewers spent grain had a positive effect on Bunaji and N’dama bull calves being raised in a traditional Fulani herd and could be encouraged as a strategy to boost cattle productivity during the critical dry season.
A.A. Busari, J.O. Oyewale, J.A. Akinlade, M.K. Adewumi, S.O. Okunola and J.A. Alalade, 2020. Impact of Dry Season Supplementary Feeding on Biological and Economic Performance of Bull Calves in a Fulani Herd in Derived Savanna Zone of Nigeria. Research Journal of Dairy Sciences, 14: 9-13.