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| Effects
of Poor Nutrition on Reproduction of Dairy Stock on Smallholder Farms
in the Tropics |
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T.P. Lanyasunya ,
H.H. Musa ,
Z.P. Yang ,
D.M. Mekki and E.A. Mukisira |
Abstract:
The relationship between
nutrition and reproduction is a topic of increasing importance. Many
research reports have clearly demonstrated that energy, protein and
minerals intake are the most important nutritional factors affecting
reproduction and therefore milk production in dairy farms. This is particularly
evident on smallholder farms in the tropics where feed is often inadequate.
On these farms, voluntary feed intake in relation to the feed required
for maintenance is the most important factor determining the animal`s
body condition. Many of the dairy animals on smallholder farms cannot
build sufficient body reserves (particularly energy and protein) due
to lack of adequate feed. As a direct consequence of feed inadequacy,
dairy stock on most smallholder resource-poor farms are often in poor
body condition (emaciated). Conception rate and calving intervals have
been shown to be highly correlated, to by weight and body condition.
The study revealed that animals with low body weights showed low conception
rate and long calving interval. Energy and protein have shown to maintain
essential levels of blood cholesterol and improve pregnancy from 42
to 72% respectively. Correlation of reproductive hormone cycle, calf
and lamb birth rates, weaning rates, lactation length and yield with
plane of nutrition, have been adequately illustrated. This is evidenced
by the current high incidences of dairy cow infertility on smallholder
farms in Kenya. Based on the literature reviewed, the current study
concluded that poor nutrition is a major contributor to the current
poor reproductive performance of dairy cows on smallholder farms. Poor
nutrition is also largely incriminated for predisposing animals to diseases
leading to high mortality and morbidity rates on these farms. It is
therefore perceived that improvement of ruminant livestock diets on
smallholder farms will greatly improve reproductive performance and
therefore herd productivity on smallholder farms. In the long run, this
will also impact positively on the economic status of the household.
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Citation
Report Citation
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How to cite this article:
T.P. Lanyasunya , H.H. Musa , Z.P. Yang , D.M. Mekki and E.A. Mukisira , 2005. Effects
of Poor Nutrition on Reproduction of Dairy Stock on Smallholder Farms
in the Tropics. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 4: 117-122.
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2005.117.122
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=pjn.2005.117.122
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