Abstract
Eight Swamp buffalo bulls (4 large and 4 local small sized) and 240 buffalo cows (120 selected and 120 non-selected) were used to evaluate the effects of bull size and selected cows on body weight of calves. Experimental animals were allocated into 4 groups: T1- large sized bulls x selected cows (BSB+SC); T2 - large sized bulls x non-selected cows (BSB+NSC); T3 – local small sized bulls x selected cows (SSB+SC) and CT – local small sized bulls x non-selected cows (SSB+NSC) as a control group. Each bull was mated with 15 selected cows and 15 non-selected cows.Body weight of calves at birth, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of ages was highest in calves of T1, then T2 and then T3 while the lowest weight was found in the CT group. Calf weight in the large sized bulls and selected cows group was higher by 10-15% than that of calves in the local small bulls and non-selected cows group at all ages. It is concluded that the use of large sized bulls for breeding increased body weight of calves. Using large bulls and selected buffalo cows was the best solution for improving the body weight of the local buffalo.
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