On-farm improvement of milk yield in Bunaji cattle through legume supplementation

Abstract

Legume supplementation of Bunaji (White Fulani) cattle owned by farmers in the Ungwan Fulani Inland Valley area of Zaria was studied with the objective of improving milk yield. The trial involved twenty-eight lactating cows in five herds whose average parity, age (as determined by dentition), liveweight, lactation length and daily milk yield were 2.3, 6.1 years, 216.9kg, 5 months and 0.4 litres, respectively. After 3-6 weeks of supplementation, an increase in daily milk yield ranging from 0.3-2.1 litres was recorded, the difference between herds being highly significant (P<0.01). Parity, lactation length, calf’s sex and age effects were however, non-significant sources of variation in total milk yield after supplementation (P>0.01). It was concluded that a seven-fold increase in milk yield could be achieved through legume supplementation for six weeks in Bunaji cows. Higher increases could possibly be recorded if the supplementation period is extended.