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Breed and environmental factors affecting the reconception of indigenous beef cows in Botswana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

N. G. Buck  and
D. Light
N. G. Buck
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana
D. Light
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana
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Abstract

The breeding records of 2710 lactating cows, of the Africander (1208), Tswana (542) and Tuli (960) breeds, were analysed to examine the effects of breed and environment on reconception. The reconception rate of Africander cows (0·56) was significantly lower than that of Tswana and Tuli cows (0·80 and 0·81 respectively) (P<0·01). The environmental effects of ranch, calving year, calving period and age/parity all had significant effects on reconception (P<0·01). Interactions between breed and the other main effects were all significant.

The Africander is considered to be a breed of lower fertility than the other two Sanga breeds, the Tswana and Tuli, in Botswana. The results are discussed with respect to determining management interventions to improve cow reproductive performance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 35 , Issue 3 , December 1982 , pp. 413 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1982

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References

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