The effect of supplementary feeding on the work output and physiological response of indigenous cattle on an oil palm plantation
1996
Gomda, Y.M., Animal Research Institute, P. 0. Box 20, Achimota, Ghana; (Present Address: Y.MG.: BNARI, GAEC, | Alhassan, W.S., Animal Research Institute, P. 0. Box 20, Achimota, Ghana; (Present Address: Y.MG.: BNARI, GAEC,
The effect of supplementary feeding on the work output, respiratory rate and diurnal rectal temperature of Sanga anaWest African Shorthc-rn (WASH) cattle working on an oil palm plantation was studied. Supplementary feed intake of the Sanga was 2.8 kg while that of the WASH was 2.4 kg. The average bodyweights ofthe Sangas and the WASH were 328 kg and 256 kg at the beginning and 348 kg and 262 kg at the end of the trials respectively. Supplementation had no significant effect on work output under the prevailing liberal grazing conditions of the trial. The respiratory ratesof the Sangas and the WASH at work when given supplementswere 38 and 51 breaths/min respectively and 35 and41 breaths/min when they were at work without supplementation.The rectal temperature was significantly higher (P0.05) after work in both breeds with and without supplementation. However, no significant difference (P0.05) in the rectal temperature was noticed between the two breeds after work. The average weight of bunches of oil palm fruits carried by a bullock cart per day was 2.03 tonnes while that of a wheel barrow used by human porters was I.61 tonnes. It was more economical to use bullock carts than wheel barrows. Original scientific paper. Received 31 Jul 95; revised 8 Aug 96.
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