African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6861

Full Length Research Paper

A phenotypic study of growth traits in indigenous. Nguni cattle of Zimbabwe

N. Assan
  • N. Assan
  • Matopos Research Station, Bag K 5137, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 22 August 2006
  •  Published: 30 September 2006

Abstract

Data from 2438 indigenous Nguni calves born at Matopos Research Station representing a total of   526 dams and 56 sires were used to evaluate the phenotypic variability and correlations of growth traits. Traits analyzed were weights at birth (BWT) (, weaning (WWT), yearling (YWT) and eighteen. A multivariate statistical model was used to analyze the data using SAS (1985 ). Sex and year of birth were highly significant (p<0.01) on all growth traits. Males were significantly heavier than females for all growth traits. The correlation of BWT with WWT, YWT and 18MO were positive, medium and significant. WWT was highly correlated with post weaning growth traits (YWT and 18MO). The estimates of phenotypic correlations were positive showing no antagonism among the growth traits.
 
Key words:  Growth Traits, Correlation, Indigenous Nguni cattle, Zimbabwe.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Back to Vol. 1 No. 2
Back to articles
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
CONFERENCES