Goal
To describe general practices regarding management of Zebu cattle in the Bolero EPA, Rumphi District. To determine reproductive and lactation performance and important influencing factors in Zebu cattle calving in fall. To determine the prevalence of possible infectious causes for reproduction and production inefficiency in Zebu cattle.
Findings
Reproductive efficiency in Zebu cattle:
Among 101 cows followed from calving in the dry period of 2015, 53 were pregnant and 48 non-pregnant after six months. Calf mortality is an important factor impairing food production from the zebu cattle in the region. Supplemental feeding of Gliricidia sepium leaves was positively associated with the length of the lactation period. This shows a potential for enhanced milk yield and thereby improved food security. Blood serology showed low prevalence of common infectious diseases, such as East cost fever, babesiosis, brucellosis, neosporosis and BVDV. The prevalence of Coxiella burnetii was high. This is a zoonotic disease that attack humans.A relatively short period from calving to start of sexual activity, and considerably variability in pregnancy rate at 6 month between cows, herds and agricultural sections, point towards a potential to maintain reproductive performance during the dry period by applying adequate management in Zebu cattle in Northern Malawi.
Project manager
Publications
A Cohort Study of Reproductive Performance, Associated Infections and Management Factors in Zebu Cows from Smallholder Farms in Malawi
M.A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, S. Klevar, L.A. Kamwanja, T.B. Klem, D.C. Jansen, H. Holm, M. Chipandula, G. Njunga, M. Stokstad og O.Reksen
2020
Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive Performance, Lactation and Weight Gain in Calves
M.A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, L.A. Kamwanja, S. Chikomola, M. Chipandula, A. Chikaonda, D.,C. Jansen, S. Klevar, T.B. Klem, M. Stokstad og O.Reksen
2020
Climate change resilience throughenhanced reproduction andlactation performance in Malawian Zebu cattle
Muhammad Azher Bhatti, Master Thesis, Master in Animal Breeding and Genetics
2016
Recommendations for farmers
Photos from the field work in Malawi
