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Fipa cattle in the southwestern highlands of Tanzania: desired attributes, breeding practices and productive performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2012

P.L. Mwambene ,
A.M. Katule ,
S.W. Chenyambuga  and
P.A.A. Mwakilembe
P.L. Mwambene*
Affiliation:
Livestock Research Centre Uyole, Directorate of Research, Training and Extension, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, PO Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania
A.M. Katule
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania
S.W. Chenyambuga
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science and Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania
P.A.A. Mwakilembe
Affiliation:
Livestock Research Centre Uyole, Directorate of Research, Training and Extension, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, PO Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania
*
Correspondence to: P.L. Mwambene, Livestock Research Centre Uyole, Directorate of Research, Training and Extension, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, PO Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania. email: piusmwambene@yahoo.co.uk
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Summary

Farmers in different cattle production systems have different trait preferences and breeding strategies that need an investigation before designing any sustainable breeding plan. The present study was undertaken to assess characteristics deemed desirable, breeding practices and productive performance of Fipa cattle in three districts of southwestern highlands of Tanzania, using a structured questionnaire. The majority of farmers perceived body size (91.7 percent), body conformation (85 percent), body colours (85 percent), disease resistance (87.5 percent), heat/drought tolerance (82.5 percent), draught power (87.5 percent), better carcass (84.2 percent) and fertility (70.8 percent) as the most important attributes of the Fipa cattle. Most (91.6 percent) farmers preferred pure breeding to cross-breeding in order to maintain the genetic purity of the strain. Mating practice was random among the majority (95.8 percent) of the farmsteads owing to non-availability of breeding bulls for each individual farmstead (43.3 percent) and also owing to grazing on communal rangelands (52.5 percent). Selection of breeding bulls was rarely rationally done. Age at first calving was 50 ± 1.3 months, while lactation length and calving interval were 7.1 ± 2.8 and 15.5 ± 0.6 months, respectively. Mean daily milk yield at peak was 3.35 ± 0.15 litres, while longevity was 10.78 ± 0.59, 14.56 ± 0.50 and 15.48 ± 0.55 years for bulls, cows and castrates, respectively. The farmers’ preference for certain attributes and the inherent performance variability should be deployed as the entry point for participatory establishment of improvement and sustainable utilization strategies of the strain.

Résumé

Les agriculteurs des divers systèmes de production de bovins ont des préférences pour certains caractères et des stratégies d'amélioration génétique différentes qu'il faudrait analyser avant de concevoir tout programme de sélection durable. Cette étude a été réalisée pour évaluer les caractéristiques souhaitables, les pratiques d’élevage et les performances de production des bovins Fipa dans trois districts des hautes terres sud-occidentales de la Tanzanie, en utilisant un questionnaire structuré. La majorité des agriculteurs considèrent la taille (91,7 pour cent), la conformation (85 pour cent) et les couleurs (85 pour cent) du corps, la résistance aux maladies (87,5 pour cent), la tolérance à la chaleur/à la sécheresse (82,5 pour cent), la traction (87,5 pour cent), la meilleure qualité de la carcasse (84,2 pour cent) et la fécondité (70,8 pour cent) comme les caractères les plus importants des bovins Fipa. La plupart (91,6 pour cent) des agriculteurs préfèrent l’élevage en race pure au croisement pour conserver la pureté génétique de la souche. La pratique d'accouplement est aléatoire dans la majorité (95,8 pour cent) des fermes en raison du manque de disponibilité de taureaux reproducteurs pour chaque ferme (43,3 pour cent) et également en raison du pâturage sur les parcours communaux (52,5 pour cent). La sélection des taureaux reproducteurs est rarement réalisée de façon rationnelle. L’âge au premier vêlage est de 50 ± 1,3 mois tandis que la période de lactation et l'intervalle entre vêlages sont respectivement de 7,1 ± 2.8 et de 15.5 ± 0,6 mois. Le rendement journalier moyen en lait au maximum est de 3,35 ± 0,15 litres, tandis que la longévité est respectivement de 10,78 ± 0,59, 14,56 ± 0,50 et 15,48 ± 0,55 ans pour les taureaux, pour les vaches et pour les animaux châtrés. La préférence des agriculteurs pour certains caractères et la variabilité intrinsèque des performances devraient constituer le point de départ pour la mise en place participative des stratégies d'amélioration et d'utilisation durable de cette souche.

Resumen

Ganaderos que siguen diferentes sistemas de producción tienen también preferencias por distintas características y estrategias de mejora, necesitándose, por tanto, de un análisis previo antes de diseñar un programa de mejora sostenible. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo para evaluar las características que se consideraban más oportunas, así como las actuaciones de mejora y el rendimiento productivo del ganado vacuno Fipa en tres distritos del suroeste de las zonas montañosas de Tanzania, utilizando un cuestionario estructurado. La mayoría de los ganaderos tenían en cuenta el tamaño corporal (91,7%), la conformación corporal (85%), el color de la capa (85%), la resistencia a enfermedades (87,5%), la tolerancia al calor y a la sequía (82,5%), la fuerza de tiro (87,5%), la mejor conformación de la canal (84,2%) y la fertilidad (70,8%) como las cualidades más importantes del ganado Fipa. La mayoría de los ganaderos (91,6%) preferían reproductores de raza pura en lugar de los cruzados con objeto de mantener la pureza genética de la población. Los apareamientos tenían lugar al azar en la mayoría de las de las explotaciones (95,8%) debido a la falta de toros reproductores en cada explotación a nivel individual (43,3%) y también debido a que pastan en pastos comunales (52,5%). La selección de toros para cría rara vez se lleva a cabo de una forma muy pensada. La edad al primer parto era de 50 ± 1,3 meses, mientras que la duración de la lactación y el intervalo entre partos era de 7,1 ± 2,8 y 15,5 ± 0,6 meses, respectivamente. La media de producción diaria de leche en el punto más alto de la curva de lactación era de 3,35 ± 0,15 litros, mientras que la longevidad era de 10,78 ± 0,59, 14,56 ± 0,50 y 15,48 ± 0,55 años para los toros, vacas y los bueyes, respectivamente. Se deben utilizar las preferencias de los ganaderos por determinadas características de los animales, así como la variabilidad de éstos en cuanto a su rendimiento productivo, como punto de partida para el establecimiento participativo de un programa mejora y estrategias sostenibles de utilización de esta raza.

Keywords

breeding practicesdesirable traitsFipa cattleperformancepratiques d’élevagecaractères souhaitablesbovins Fipaperformanceprácticas de mejoracaracteres deseablesganado vacuno Fiparendimiento
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 51 , December 2012 , pp. 45 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2012

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