Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Reproductive Potential of Red Chittagong Cattle in Bangladesh

M.R. Amin
Faculty of Agro Based Industry, University Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia

M.A. Habib
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202

A.K.F.H. Bhuiyan
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was carried out to investigate the phenotypic and genetic potential of reproductive traits of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) of Bangladesh. For that purpose accumulated data on a total of 101 animals from four different herds covering a period from 2005 to 2011 were used for analyses. The overall mean (±SE) values of age at first heat (AFH), age at first conception (AFC), age at first calving (AC), calving rate per productive year (CR), interval to post partum heat (IPPH), days open (DO), calving interval (CI) and generation interval (GI) we re 35.9±1.1 month , 42.1±1.3 mo nth , 50.6±1.1 mo nth , 0.87 ±0.01 m o nth , 149.4± 9.5 d ays, 178.6±11.0 d ays, 454.9±10.4 days and 4.2±0.1 year, respectively. The factors having significant effect s on reproductive traits we re herd on DO and CI and calving year on DO . Calving parity and calving season ha d no significant effect on those tra its. The heritability estimates of IPPH, DO and CI were very low (0, 0.06 and 0.09) and that of corresponding repeatability estimates were also low (0.06, 0.08 and 0.09, respectively). The heritability estimates for other traits we re moderate (0.39 to 0.50). The results indicate d that though reproductive potential of RCC for most of the traits are below than expected, that may be due to their lower inherent capability of indigenous Zebu compared to Taurus, but there is still opportunity of considerable improvement of the se traits studied as indicate d by their phenotypic variations among population.

Keywords: Red Chittagong Cattle; Reproductive potential; Non-genetic effect; Genetic parameters

Location: Anwara and Chandanaish Upazila in Chittagong district and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Char Jailkhan community in Mymensingh district

Start Date: 00-00-2005

End Date: 00-00-2011

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Cattle

Objectives:

To investigate the genetic and non - genetic control of reproductive parameters of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

Study sites with geographical location and climate: The study was conducted from four different sites/herds located at Anwara (22⁰10' to 22⁰14' N and 91⁰52' to 91⁰56’ E) and Chandanaish ( 22⁰12' to 22⁰14' N and 92⁰0' to 92⁰06' E) Upazila in Chittagong district and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) nucleus herd ( 24⁰30' to 25⁰10' N and 90⁰15' to 91⁰5' E) and Char Jailkhan community herd ( 24⁰77' to 24⁰78' N and 90⁰39' to 90⁰41' E) in Mymensingh district having a pronounced tropical monsoon-type climate has warm temperatures throughout the year, with a hot and rainy summer and a dry winter with relatively little variation from month to month. January tends to be the coolest month with temperatures averaging near 26⁰C (78⁰F) and April/May the warmest with temperatures from 33 to 36⁰C (91 to 96⁰F). The climate is one of the wettest in the world. Most places receive more than 1,525 mm of rain a year, and areas near the hills receive 5,080 mm. Most rains occur during the monsoon (June-September) and little in winter (November-February) (Anonymous, 2012).

Management of animals in the herds: The feeding and management of RCC by small holders was semi-intensive. The animals were grazed most of the time in a day (6-8 hrs/day). So, land side grasses are the basal diet of the animals. Rice straws were the second main basal diets of the animals specially during cropping seasons. Most of the farmers provided rice bran and common salt to their animals fed with drinking water daily. Housing system provided to the animals were traditional in a shabby house made of bamboo with thatched roofs. The feeding and management of RCC at BAU Nucleus herd was intensive. The animals were housed in a paddock with a faced out open house system. The animals of the Nucleus Herd were stall fed throughout the year. The animals were provided concentrate, green grass and straw where straw was the basal diet supplemented with urea and/molasses. The animals were allowed to graze due to lack of facility. Some times, the animals were given a mixture of molasses and straw only twice a day adlibitum throughout the year. Green forages like German grass, Sorghum grass, and Maize fodder were provided with limited amo unt due to scarcity of their availability round the year. Concentrate mixture was supplied once a day in the morning at the rate of 600g/lactating cow, 500g/pregnant cow and 250g/dry cow and heifer. The pregnant cows were transferred to a separate house a few days prior to calving and returned to cow barn few days after calving. The calves were allowed to suckle their dam for few hours after milking and again few hours before evening and it continued up to 3-4 months. Afterwards, calves were allowed to suckle once a day after milking until weaning. In the herds of Chittagong district of Bangladesh, farmers seldom vaccinate d and deworm ed their animals. In the BAU nucleus and community herd in Mymensingh, the animals were dewormed and vaccinated (against FMD a nd Anthrax disease) at regular interval for close monitoring .

Animals and data preparation: The data consisted of records of 101 animals included from two generations raised in the above mentioned herds collected from 2005 to 2011.

After collecting the necessary data for analysis, preliminary editing was performed to exclude abnormal or biased data. Then all data were plotted in a normal distribution curve and those fell beyond the normal curve were eliminated. About 2 to 10 % records were rejected as they fell outside the range of normal distribution fitted for statistical models.

Data analysis and statistical model: Animals were arranged in contemporary groups of calving parity, herd, year and season. The general linear model (GLM) procedure of SPSS 11.5 was used to test the main fixed effects as well as interactions effects .

Source of Information: Journal of Tropical Resources and Sustainable Science, Volume 1 Number 1, January 2013: 71-86 ISSN: 2289-3946

Article Link (Online Journal): http://umkeprints.umk.edu.my/1715/1/8.pdf

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It may, therefore, be concluded that the reproductive potentiality of RCC found in this study is comparable with other indigenous cattle available in Bangladesh and even in other countries on the basis of literatures. However, the improvement of reproductive performance that is below than expected due to their inherent fact may overcome some extent providing favorable environment like feeding, general and reproductive management, disease control rather than genetic improvement due to low heritability.

Knowledge Management: Journal