Abstract
A 10-year meteorologic data have been collated to enable delienation of the environmental profile of the Nigerian Guinea Savanna zone. Three distinct seasons are defined: a hot-dry season which lasts from March to April; a hot-humid season (May to October); and the harmattan season (November to February). The effects of these seasons on milk production by half and three-quarter Friesian-Zebu crosses were evaluated during the first 100 days of lactation over a 2-year period. There were no significant differences in milk yield between the genotypes, but at heat intensities above 27‡C, the half cross gave more milk than the three-quarter cross. It is thus recommended that the half Friesian-Zebu cross be selected for milk production in the Nigerian Guinea Savanna and that suitable husbandry and managerial adjustments such as provision of adequate clean water, shelter, good quality and silage and night grazing should be evolved to ameliorate the adverse effects of thermal stress and nutritional deficiency during the drier and hotter months of the year.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
