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Nkadimeng M, Van Marle-Köster E, Nengovhela NB, Ramukhithi FV, Mphaphathi ML, Rust JM, Makgahlela ML. Assessing Reproductive Performance to Establish Benchmarks for Small-Holder Beef Cattle Herds in South Africa. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12213003. [PMID: 36359127 PMCID: PMC9657001 DOI: 10.3390/ani12213003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Smallholder beef cattle farms in South Africa have had low reproductive performance, which has been associated with management practices. Considering current farm management practices, a multi-stage selection study was conducted to assess reproductive performance as defined by pregnancy rate, fetal and calf losses, calving interval and days open to benchmark reproductive performance. Data were collected twice, in autumn (March−May) for pregnancy diagnosis and in spring (September−November) for monitoring of confirmed pregnancies. Overall, 3694 cow records from 40 smallholder herds were collected during 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons from five provinces. The preferred 25th quartile described target performance and GLIMMIX procedure determined associations between management practices and performance. Smallholder farms on average recorded 50% pregnancy rate and 12% fetal and calf losses with 304 and 608 days open and calving interval, respectively. The derived target benchmarks for pregnancy rate, fetal and calf losses, days open and calving intervals in smallholder farms were 54%, 1.4%, 152 and 425 days, respectively. Reproductive performance was associated with no knowledge of body condition scoring before breeding, culling of old and non-productive cows, record keeping and low bull to cow ratio (p < 0.05). The performance benchmarks implied that industry averages may be improved if sustainable management services are provided through extension and advisory services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marble Nkadimeng
- Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
- Agricultural Research Council, Department of Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Private Bag X2, Irene, Tshwane 0062, South Africa
- Correspondence:
| | - Este Van Marle-Köster
- Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Nkhanedzeni Baldwin Nengovhela
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Delpen Building, Corner Annie Botha and Union Street, Riviera, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Florida 1710, South Africa
| | - Fhulufhelo Vincent Ramukhithi
- Agricultural Research Council, Department of Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Private Bag X2, Irene, Tshwane 0062, South Africa
| | - Masindi Lotus Mphaphathi
- Agricultural Research Council, Department of Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Private Bag X2, Irene, Tshwane 0062, South Africa
| | | | - Mahlako Linah Makgahlela
- Agricultural Research Council, Department of Germplasm Conservation and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Private Bag X2, Irene, Tshwane 0062, South Africa
- Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
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