COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF EARLY WET AND LATE WET SEASON ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BUNAJI CALVES

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of early wet and late wet season on the growth performance of Bunaji calves. Six male calves aged 10 – 12 months of Bunaji breeds were used for the study. They were allowed to graze after the sun had risen and in the evening before they were confined into the paddock. Water intake was measured in the mid afternoon and evening while the growth parameters measured every week were body length, body circumference, tail length, thoracic girth, height at wither and body weight. It was observed that there was significant (P<0.05) changings in the body parameter of
the animals during the early wet season and higher values were noted during the late wet season (p<0.05). It was concluded that the growth performance of the animals during late wet was better due to the availability of forage of good quality and quantity than that of the early wet season and farmers should grazed their animal during this period so as to improved livestock production.