EFFECTS OF FEED SUPPLEMENTATION AND HELMINTH CONTROL ON PRODUCITVITY Of BUNAJI CATTLE UNDER AGROPASTORAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

The effects of dry season supplementation with groundnut hams .J control on the performance of Bunaji cattle grazing and r+ we ribald. A . W of 144 cow-calf pairs in 24 agropastoral herds were d in (Iw ahoy. The treatment combinations were TI (no supplementary feeding no deworming), Tl (supplementary feeding of cows only), T3 ( D a v e a3J d cow-calf pairs) and T4 (supplementary feeding of cow only md dew- d cow-calf pairs.) The supplement was fed at 3.0kg/head/day while the r'.lure were dewormed 3 times during the 16 weeks trial period. Supplementation of cows with groundnut haulms significantly increased (Pe0.05) milk offtake of cows and growth rates of suckling calico. Daily .Jllr offtake per cow for the Tl, T2, T3 and T4 treatments averaged 0.79, lW 036 and l m g respectively. Calf growth rate averaged 100.1, 163.0,155.7 ud 217d d for Tl, T2, T3 and T4 treatments respectively. Deworming with anthelmintic d q increased (P<0.05) calf growth rates and reduced (P<0.05) mortality of calves. Calf mortality averaged 13.8, 12.5, 6.8 and 9.1% for TI, T2 T3 and T4 treatments respectively. Net economic benefit was higher in T3 and T4 than in Tl and T2 treatment groups. The results indicate that adoption of joint forage legume supplementation and helminth control would increase milk offtake, calf growth and income of smallholder dairy producers.