Browsing by Author "Nkya, R."

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Effects of urea-molasses-multinutrient block supplementation on reproductive and productive performance of-dairy cattle under, smallholder farm
(2002) Nkya, R.; Mwanga, L. E.; Kessy, B.M.; Shem, M.N.
The effect of urea-molasses-multinutrient blocks (UMMB) as an energy and protein supplement on reproductive performance and milk yield of dairy cows was investigated in 18 crossbred cows from eight smallholder farms. In treatment 1 nine, cows were fed a maximum of 1 kg (UMMB per cow per day in addition to the routine feeds forage and maize bran) and in treatment 2 (control) nine cows were fed routine feeds only. The experiment started 4 weeks pre-partum and lasted for 120 days postpartum. Onset of ovarian activity was monitored through progesterone in 612 sequentially collected milk samples and rectal palpation. In treatment 1. the intervals between calving to completion of uterine involution, first rise of milk progesterone, occurrence of first oestrus and conception were (mean ±se) 24±7. 65.3±8. 99.7±12.8 and 120.2±10 days. respectively. In treatment 2. the intervals were 29.6±5. 77. 6±9. 115,9±l5 and 133. 7±14 days. respectively. The treatment differences were not significant (P> 0. 05). Milk production in treatment 1 increased significantly by 1.21 (P<0.001) while in treatment 2 it decreased by 0. 21. Body condition score (BCS) improved significantly by 0.15 (P<0.05) in treatment 1 compared to treatment 2 cows. Use of UMMB gave an overall profit of US$ 0. 34 per day of lactation from sale of milk that resulted from increased yield and milk due to shortened days open. It was concluded that dry season improvement of reproductive and productive performance of dairy cows under smallholder farms could be cost effectively achieved through supplementation with urea-molasses-multinutrient blocks.
Seasonal changes in nutritional status and reproductive performance of Zebu cows kept under a traditional agro-pastoral system in Tanzania
(Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006, 2006) Kanuya, N. L.; Matiko, M. K.; Nkya, R.; Bittegeko, S. B. P.; Mgasa, M. N.; Reksen, O.; Ropstad, E.
The objectives of this study were to assess changes in nutritional status/body condition score, percentage pregnancy and calving rate in Zebu cows and to establish the relationship between body condition score loss and postpartum interval to resumption of ovarian activity. A total of 198 cows and postpubertal heifers of the Tanzanian Shorthorn Zebu kept under a traditional management system were randomly selected from 200 smallholder herds. Factors investigated during bi-weekly visits include body condition score (BCS), heart-girth circumference, milk yield and reproductive status of the animals, pregnancy/nonpregnancy and cyclicity/non-cyclicity. Local weather conditions and dates of occurrence of other reproductive events such as calving were also recorded. Calvings occurred all year round but with a strong seasonal distribution characterized by annual peaks observed between April and July. The annual calving pattern was closely related to rainfall, with peak precipitation occurring a few months before peak calving. The overall percentage pregnancy varied from 30% to 50% throughout the N. L. Kanuya ( ) · M. K. Matiko · R. Nkya · S. B. P. Bittegeko · M. N. Mgasa Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania e-mail: nkanuya@yahoo.com O. Reksen · E. Ropstad Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway year. Postpartum cows exhibited minimum mean BCS and heart-girth circumference 12–14 weeks after calving, and cows with BCS loss >1 point exhibited the longest time interval from calving to onset of ovarian activity.