Effect of production systems on the performance of dairy cows in the Gezira State, Sudan
Abstract
This study was conducted in the Gezira State, Sudan, with the objectives of investigating and comparing the effect of production systems on age at first calving, calving interval, milk yield, herd structure, mortality and growth rate in traditional animal production and organized dairy farms. Six out of eight localities were included in the study. From each locality, 5 herds, each of traditional animal production and organized dairy farms were selected. This survey was carried out using questionnaire involving 40 farmers (including the surveyed farms) from each locality. Means and standard deviations for each studied parameter were calculated using SPSS. The result revealed greater differences in the studied parameters between the two systems of production. Feed had a great influence on animal performance. It could be recommended that, for improving the traditional farm performance, efforts should be payed to upgrade animal genetics through selection from highly producing local cows and introduction of foreign breeds. Feeding improvement in both terms of quality and quantity is also needed.
اجريت هذه الدراسة بولاية الجزيرة بغرض التعرف ومقارنة أثر نظم الانتاج المختلفة علي العمر عند اول ولادة والفترة بين الولدتين وانتاج اللبن وتركيب القطيع والنفوق ومعدل النمو في كل من قطاع الانتاج الحيواني التقليدي ومزارع الالبان المنتظمة . شملت الدراسة ستة من ثمانية محليات. اختير من كل محلية 5 قطعان من كل من قطاع الانتاج الحيواني التقليدي ومزاع الالبان المنتظمة. دعم المسح باستبيان شمل 40 مزارع من كل محلية. حسبت المتوسطات والانحرافات المعيارية لكل عنصر من عناصر الدراسة وذلك باستخدام نظام الحزم الاحصائية للعلوم الاجتماعية ( (SPSS كشفت الدراسة عن فروقات معنوية بين العناصر المدروسة في كل من النظاميين واكدت ان الغذاء له اثر كبير علي اداء الحيوان وكذلك العناصر الأخرى خاصة الوراثية قد يكون لها اثر علي الاداء. من اجل تحسين مزارع الانتاج الحيواني التقليدي توصي الدراسة تبذل مجهودات لرفع الكفاءة الوراثية للحيوان من خلال الاختيار من الابقار المحلية العالية الانتاج وادخال السلالات الاجنبية . أيضاً يجب رفع مستوي الغذاء من الناحية الكمية والنوعية.
References
Ageeb, A.G. and J.F Hayes, 2000. Genetic and environmental effect, on the productivity of Holstein – Friesian cattle to the climatic conditions of central Sudan, Tropical Animal Health and Production 32: 33 – 49.
Ageeb, A.G. 2002. What indigenous dairy breed to be crossed with Holstein – Friesian sires for milk production in the Sudan?. Journal of Animal Production. 15: 1 – 18.
Ali, R.M.E 2005. The Feasibility of Integration of Livestock Production in Irrigated Agriculture in the Sudan (Case Study: The Gezira Scheme).MSc University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Cheeke, P.R. 2005. Applied Animal Nutrition; Feed and Feeding 3d ed. Upper Ssaddle River, New Jersey. USA.
Gezira Livestock Integration Study Final Report. Vol. IV, Livestock, Human and Environmental Resources1987. DEVCO and RIM (Publisher) Ireland.
El Habeeb, E.A. 1991. Variation in reproductive and milk production traits in Butana and Kenana dairy cattle in the Sudan. M.V.Sc. Thesis. University of Khartoum , Sudan.
Elobied, G.H. 2003. Effect of grazing residues pesticide treated cotton on rumen fermentation characteristics. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Gezira, Sudan.
Ishag, I.A. 2000. Impact of genetic and non – genetic factors on productive and reproductive traits of cross – bred cows raised under Sudan conditions. M.Sc. Thesis , University of Khartoum , Sudan.
Lutfi, M.A., M. A. Musa., J.J.Ahmed, B.Z. Peters and E.A. Gubartalla. 2005. The reproductive and milk performance merit of Butana cattle in Sudan. Archiv. Tierzucht/ Archives Animal Breeding. 48(2005) 5: 445 – 459.
The annual estimation of livestock population and milk production in Sudan 2005 . Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MARF). Khartoum, Sudan.
The annual estimation of livestock population and milk production 1975 in Sudan. Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MARF) Khartoum Sudan.
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources (MALNR). 2015. Department of Range Management, Annual Report. Wad Medani, Sudan.
McDowell, R.E. 1972. Improvement of Livestock Production in Warm Climates. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company,USA.
Mohammed A. H. 2008. Milk Production and Marketing in the Sudan. A Study of Khartoum and Gezira States. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Khartoum ,Sudan.
Musa, M.A.; K.J Peters,.; M.K.A. Ahmed. 2006. On farm characterization of Butana and Kenana cattle breed production systems in the Sudan – Livestock Research for Rural Development 18(2).
Payne, W.J.A. 1970. Cattle Production in the Tropics ,Longman, UK.
Payne, W.J.A. and R.T. Wilson, 1999. An Introduction to Animal Husbandry in the Tropics. 5th ed. Cambridge: Blackwell Science Ltd.
Sudanimal. 2006. Sudanese cattle. http/www. Sudanimals .com/ myweb / English cattle htm.2006.
Suleiman, Y.R. and A.A. Mabrouk. 1999. The nutrient composition of Sudanese animal feed (Bulletin III). Central Animal Nutrition Research Laboratory, Kuku, Khartoum North (edt.).
Syrstad, O. 1990. A Genetic Interpretation of Results Obtained in Bos indicus x Bos Taurus Cross Breeding for Milk Production. In: Proceedings of the 4th Conference on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Edinburg. XIV: pp. 165 – 198.
