RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTATION IN WHITE-FULANI CATTLE UNDER AGROPASTORAL MANAGEMENT IN NORTHERN NIGERIA .2. FODDER

The effect of dry-season supplementation of White Fulani cattle in nor thern Nigeria with legume standing hay (fodderbanks) was investigated. Over 430 cattle were recorded in 8 herds over 2 . 5 years. Fodder ban k supplementation may have reduced weight losses in calves and breedin g females during the dry-season. Emergency sales of immature animals w ere lower on fodder banks (6.5% vs 14.3%, P<0 . 01). There was no evid ence that fodder banks reduced cattle mortalities during the dry seaso n. Fodder banks may have had a deleterious effect by encouraging dry-s eason conceptions. Resulting dry season calvings led to calving percen tages of 36.9% on fodder and 60.3% on no fodder (P<0 . 05). Calf morta lity was also higher on fodder banks; animals not reaching their secon d year were 13% on fodder bank vs 3.9% on no fodder (P<0 . 01). It was concluded that dry season nutrition interaction with the agro-pastora list livestock system needs further investigation.