Back to: Animal Husbandry SS 1
Cattle belongs to the group of animals known as Bovidae. They are ruminants, having hollow horns and hoofs with an even number of toes. Cattle are reared for their meat, milk, hide and skin, manure and as draught animals for work on the farm.
Breeds of Cattle
(i) Azawal (ii) Sokoto Gudali (iii)Wadara (Shuwa) (iv) White Fulani (v) Red Bororo (vi)Muturu (vii) N’dama (viii) Keteku (Borgu) (ix) Kuri (x) Brown Swiss (xi) Holstein (xii) Jersey.
The breeds of cattle can also be categorized into three groups. These groups are:
(a) Beef Cattle: These are the cattle which have the ability to produce meat. Examples are: (i) N’dama (ii) Red Bororo (iii) Sokoto Gudali (iv) Keteku (Borgu) (v) Kuri (vi) Brown Swiss (vii) Rahaji
(b) Dairy Cattle: These are cattle which are reared mainly to produce milk. Examples are: (i) White Fulani (ii) Jersey (iii) Red poll (iv) Kerry (v) Guernsey (vi) Dexter (vii) Holstein
(c) Dual Purpose Cattle: These are cattle capable of producing milk and meat. Examples are: (i) Azawal (ii) Muturu (iii) Biu
(iv) Wadara (shuwa).
Terminology Used in Cattle
Bull – An adult male cattle.
Cow – An adult female cattle.
Calf – A young or baby cattle.
Heifer – A growing female up to her first calving.
Bull Calf – A young male cattle.
Heifer Calf – A young female cattle.
Steer – A castrated male cattle.
Ox – A castrated adult male cattle.
Vealer – A castrated female cattle.
Serving – Act of mating in cattle.
Calving – Act of giving birth(parturition).
Beef – Meat of cattle
Dairy cattle – Cattle kept for milk production.
Beef Cattle – Cattle reared for meat production.
Herd – A group of cattle.
Polled – Cattle without horns.
Horned – Cattle with horns.
Humped – Cattle with hump.
Humpless – Cattle without hump.
Characteristics of West African Breed of Cattle (i) Very hardy (ii) Have greater tolerance to heat and humidity (iii) Tolerant to some diseases, e.g. trypanosomiasis (iv) Can withstand stress and travel long distances without water (v) Late maturing (vi) Have
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