Feed and management interventions for increased milk production in zebu cattle at Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Milk production in Zebu cattle is generally limited by their low genetic potentials, poor nutrition and poor management practices. In order to  improve performance of Zebu cattle and enhance milk production in the hot and humid environment of Ibadan, a series of feed and management practices were introduced at the University of Ibadan Dairy Farm between 2012 and 2016.These interventions included fodder cropping, silage  production, tick control measures and evaporative cooling of cows. Fodder cropping, particularly, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was found to enhance silage-making and fresh-cut feeding of cattle. Introduction of silage into the diet improved growth rate of Zebu heifers by 100% (400-800 g/d) and milk yield of cows by about 125% (average of 2.0 - 4.5kg/d). Tick control measures and evaporative cooling of heifers during hot weather also enhanced growth rate by an average of 121% (av. 300 - 663 g/d) and 64% (av. 380 - 643 g/d) respectively. Although studies on the effect of evaporative cooling on milk production are on-going, there is indication that this practice could enhance and sustain milk production of Zebu  cattle in the hot environment. These interventions, when adopted and appropriated across farming communities, have great potentials to enhance productivity of Zebu cattle in Nigeria.

Keywords: zebu cattle, milk yield, silage, tick control, evaporative cooling