The effect of farm (herd) and season of calving on the reproductive performance of Sanga cows in smallholder periurban dairy farms in the Accra Plains

English

Reproductive studies were conducted on Sanga cattle which are predominatly used in smallholder peri-urban dairy farms in the Accra Plains for milk production. The interval from calving to first progesterone rise (calving to resumption of cyclic ovarian activity) averaged 101.3 6.2 days and was significantly (P < 0.05) different among various farms. Season of calving did not exert any significant (P > 0.05) influence on this interval. There was a general delay of about 55 days from first progesterone rise to conception. The interval from calving to conception was 164.2 ± 7.4 days and was significantly (P < 0.05) different in the farms studied, with season of calving having no significant (P > 0.05) effect. The mean calving interval was 444.3 ± 2.5 days. This was significantly (P<0.05) affected by farm and season of calving of cow. Cows that calved the dry season had a shorter calving interval (435.3 9.6 days) than those that calved in the wet season (453.2 ± 1 1.0 days). The results indicated poor reproductive performance of the animals as evidenced by long post-partum anoestrous period and Jong calving interval.

Okantah, S. A.; Obese, F. Y.; Oddoye, E. O. K.; Karikari, P. K.; Gyawu, P.; Bryant, M. J.