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The Productivity Of Mashona Cattle in Rhodesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2017

J. Oliver
J. Oliver*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury, Rhodesia
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Summary

The productivity of a herd of Mashona cattle is described, where hand-feeding was practised in winter to prevent loss of body weight. Calves weighed about 50 lb at birth, and gained weight at the rate of 1.27 lb a day to six months of age, compared widi 1.56 and 0.87 lb a day for calves at two other sites. Young animals gained an average of ½ lb a day from weaning to maturity. Mashona steers responded to pen-feeding and produced carcasses which were satisfactory for the Smithfield market. The mature weight of breeding cows was just under 700 lb and the calving rate varied from 72 to 92 per cent. Cows which failed to calve and those whose calves were early-weaned gained almost 100 lb liveweight by the end of die grazing season. Early-weaned calves fed a complete diet were 40 lb heavier than their contemporaries at 28 weeks of age. The need to develop die breed is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , April 1966 , pp. 119 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1966

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