On-station Performance Evaluation of Indigenous Breeds of Cattle for Dairy Production Systems in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating on-station performance of indigenous breeds of cattle for milk yield and body conformation traits. The data for the study came from four hundred and fifty (450) genotypes (Bunaji, Friesian X Bunaji and Gudali) of cattle reared on-station from 1995 through 2012. Morphometric variables measured were BW: Body weight (Kg); BL: Body Length (cm); HW: Height at withers (cm); CW: Chest width (cm); HG: Heart Girth (cm); Rumwi: Rump width (cm); TL: Teat Length (cm); RUH: Rear Udder Height (cm); UC: Udder Circumference (cm); TY: Total Yield (Litres). There variations in morphometric traits and milk yield among the genotypes of cows. Bodyweight was significant and highly correlated with total yield in milk for all the genotypes of cows. The accuracy of predicting total yield in milk using morphometric traits was best in FriesianXBunaji (76.24%) followed by Bunaji (70.43%) while Gudali had the least prediction classification (62.06%). It is concluded that performance differences among the indigenous cattle indicate genetic diversity exists among the genotypes.