Factors affecting birth weight, growth and viability of calves in rural farms in Northern Cameroon

Abstract

In order to better evaluate cattle productivity of rural livestock in Northern Cameroon, 2 800 cattle owned by 36 farmers selected for the study were monitored beginning in 1989. Eleven localities gathered into four zones were involved. Every year during four months of the dry warm season (February-May), two levels of cottonseed cake supplement were fed to animals (500 or 1000 g/animal/day). Demographic, zootechnical, sanitary and economic information related to the animals, the herds and the farmers were collected during each monthly visit. After four years of farm monitoring, 215 birth weights (0-3 days) out of nearly 1300 births were collected. The average birth weight was 22.7 kg (standard error (se) = 2.43). The calving rank significantly affected the calf birth weight (21.1-24.7 kg). Three thousand measurements taken from newborn were recorded in a database during the study. Growth curves showed that age explained 65-85% of weight changes from 0-1 year of age. Genetic and environmental factors explained the remainder. The average weight of 12 month old calves varied with the zone. Calves from Lougguéré and around Garoua weighed 180.3 kg (se = 7.7) and 106.4 kg (se = 6.0), respectively. The mortality rate of 0-1 year old calves was 7.3% and varied with the body weight. Improving livestock farming practices may contribute to calves’ weight gain and reduce their mortality rate in Northern Cameroon.