EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS SUPPLEMENTATION ON PREGNANCY IN WHITE FULANI (BUNAJI) CATTLE

Abstract

THE effect of bone meal supplementation on pregnancy and plasma phosphorus level in White Fulani (Bunaji) cattle was investigated over a 13-month period. The monthly mean plasma levels of inorganic phosphorus for supplemented Cows varied from 4.63mg/100ml in dry season to 8.09mg/100ml in the rainy season in contrast to 3.07 to 7.09/100ml in the dry and rainy seasons respectively, for the controls. Bonemeal supplementation resulted in earlier conception and calving. Fifty percent of the supplemented cows calved by the end of the period of supplementation in contrast to 25 percent of the controls. By two months after the study period, 100% of cows that received the supplementation had conceived compared with 87.50% of the controls. It is concluded from the study that bonemeal is a practical method for improving the fertility of White Fulani cattle in the grazing areas of Nigeria where soil and forage are deficient in phosphorus