Preweaning Performances of Ndama Cattle

Abstract

Data on birth weight, preweaning daily rate of gain and weaning weight of Ndama beef cattle were obtained from routine records kept on the Fashola Livestock Farm between 1959 and 1964 and subjected to least-squares analysis to determine the effect of sex, month, year and sire on the performance characteristics. The results indicated that the Ndama weighted 19.65 kg at birth and 97.61 kg at weaning when adjusted to 205 days with a preweaning daily rate of gain o 0.38 kg. The bulls were significantly heavier at birth and weaning and also had a significantly higher preweaning daily rate of gain than the heifers. Birth weight, preweaning daily rate of gain, and weaning weight showed significant sex, month, year and sire effects.