Effect of Milking and Post Calving Supplementation on the Performance (And Herbage Intake) of Different Crossbred Beef Cows and Their Calves in a Semi –Arid Area of Kenya

Abstract

The effects on production of milking grazed crossbred cattle with or without a dietary supplement (2 kg dairy meal daily for 3 to 4 months post-partum) were studied at Athi River ranch in a semi-arid area of Kenya. The cows were Ayrshire, Friesian or Simmental breeds crossbred with foundation females of Boran, East African Short Horn Zebu, Sahiwal and their crosses with Hereford breed. During each year of the three year study, they were divided into four matched groups according to parity and date of calving and grazed during day time'. Their calves, sired by either Sinmental or Boran bulls were allocated to the same treatment groups, however, during experiments 2 and 3 in 1987 and 1988, half the calves in each experiment treatment group were creep fed for about four months commencing approximately one month from birth