228
large potential for increased reproductive efficiency in Zebu cattle of this area.
Particularly, the keeping of a herd-own bull, adequate breeding management and
care of first parity cows seem to be key factors to increase reproductive efficiency
and thereby food production from Malawi Zebu.
1 Introduction
The African population of 1.2 billion people is expected to double by 2050 (Groth
and May 2017) which will require significant improvements in food production. In
addition, climate changes represent new challenges in crop and livestock production. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reports that 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by livestock, and intensification of the production is
the most efficient way of reducing carbon footprint from this sector (Gerber et al.
2013). In sub-Saharan African countries, severe dry weather has affected the large
grazing areas leading to less grazing, and livestock struggle to maintain body condition resulting in compromised reproductive efficiency (Kanuya et al. 2006b; Matiko
et al. 2008). During the dry season, rivers remain the only source of available water
for the majority of cattle herds, and cattle need to walk longer distances to get water,
which could also potentially influence their reproductive performance.
Rural Malawians’ (80% of total population) existence is largely dependent on
smallholder agriculture, and Malawian Zebu cattle farming contributes significantly
to food production (Dixon et al. 2004). Optimising cattle reproductive efficiency
represents one way to increase milk and meat production (Kiwuwa et al. 1983).
Previous studies from other countries on indigenous Zebu cattle reproduction have
emphasised the importance of having a breeding bull at the farm, which minimises
the incidence of transmissible venereal diseases among herds (Fernandez et al.
1993; Rekwot et al. 2004; Young et al. 2014).
Improvements in Malawi Zebu breeding programs have been called for, and
management of bulls has been identified as a major limiting factor (Nandolo et al.
2015; Rekwot et al. 2000). In a study of Tanzanian Zebu cows, Matiko et al. (2008)
reported a significant effect of parity (> second parity) on post-partum resumption
of ovarian cyclicity. It may, therefore, be speculated that first parity Zebu cows,
maintained in a pastoral system with no breeding management, are mated too early
for optimal reproductive performance.
Infectious disease agents like bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Brucella
spp. and Neospora caninum have been identified to exert direct effects on the reproductive organs, whereas protozoan parasites such as Theileria parva, Babesia bovis,
Babesia bigemina and Trypanosoma spp. have an indirect effect on reproductive
performance through compromised general health (Mukasa-Mugerwa 1989; Sekoni
1994). High prevalence of BVDV and Brucella spp. in Tanzania (Mathew et al.
2017) and N. caninum in Ethiopia (Asmare 2014) has been reported to exert a negative impact on Zebu cattle reproductive performance in these regions. The occurrence
M. A. Bhatti et al.
large potential for increased reproductive efficiency in Zebu cattle of this area.
Particularly, the keeping of a herd-own bull, adequate breeding management and
care of first parity cows seem to be key factors to increase reproductive efficiency
and thereby food production from Malawi Zebu.
1 Introduction
The African population of 1.2 billion people is expected to double by 2050 (Groth
and May 2017) which will require significant improvements in food production. In
addition, climate changes represent new challenges in crop and livestock production. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reports that 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by livestock, and intensification of the production is
the most efficient way of reducing carbon footprint from this sector (Gerber et al.
2013). In sub-Saharan African countries, severe dry weather has affected the large
grazing areas leading to less grazing, and livestock struggle to maintain body condition resulting in compromised reproductive efficiency (Kanuya et al. 2006b; Matiko
et al. 2008). During the dry season, rivers remain the only source of available water
for the majority of cattle herds, and cattle need to walk longer distances to get water,
which could also potentially influence their reproductive performance.
Rural Malawians’ (80% of total population) existence is largely dependent on
smallholder agriculture, and Malawian Zebu cattle farming contributes significantly
to food production (Dixon et al. 2004). Optimising cattle reproductive efficiency
represents one way to increase milk and meat production (Kiwuwa et al. 1983).
Previous studies from other countries on indigenous Zebu cattle reproduction have
emphasised the importance of having a breeding bull at the farm, which minimises
the incidence of transmissible venereal diseases among herds (Fernandez et al.
1993; Rekwot et al. 2004; Young et al. 2014).
Improvements in Malawi Zebu breeding programs have been called for, and
management of bulls has been identified as a major limiting factor (Nandolo et al.
2015; Rekwot et al. 2000). In a study of Tanzanian Zebu cows, Matiko et al. (2008)
reported a significant effect of parity (> second parity) on post-partum resumption
of ovarian cyclicity. It may, therefore, be speculated that first parity Zebu cows,
maintained in a pastoral system with no breeding management, are mated too early
for optimal reproductive performance.
Infectious disease agents like bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Brucella
spp. and Neospora caninum have been identified to exert direct effects on the reproductive organs, whereas protozoan parasites such as Theileria parva, Babesia bovis,
Babesia bigemina and Trypanosoma spp. have an indirect effect on reproductive
performance through compromised general health (Mukasa-Mugerwa 1989; Sekoni
1994). High prevalence of BVDV and Brucella spp. in Tanzania (Mathew et al.
2017) and N. caninum in Ethiopia (Asmare 2014) has been reported to exert a negative impact on Zebu cattle reproductive performance in these regions. The occurrence
M. A. Bhatti et al.