Responses to supplementation in white Fulani cattle under agro-pastoral management in northern Nigeria. II. Fodder.

The effect of dry-season supplementation of White Fulani cattle in northern Nigeria with legume standing hay (fodderbanks) was investigated. Over 430 cattle were recorded in 8 herds over 2.5 years. Fodder bank supplementation may have reduced weight losses in calves and breeding females during the dry-season. Emergency sales of immature animals were lower on fodder banks (6.5% vs 14.3%, P < 0.01). There was no evidence that fodder banks reduced cattle mortalities during the dry season. Fodder banks may have had a deleterious effect by encouraging dry-season conceptions. Resulting dry season calvings led to calving percentages of 36.9% on fodder and 60.3% on no fodder (P < 0.05). Calf mortality was also higher on fodder banks; animals not reaching their second year were 13% on fodder bank vs 3.9% on no fodder (P < 0.01). It was concluded that dry season nutrition interaction with the agro-pastoralist livestock system needs further investigation.