Feedlot performance of the Nguni ecotypes in southern Mozambique

S Maciel, J Amimo*, M Martins**, A M Okeyo*, M M Scholtz*** and F W C Neser

Department of Animal Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, UFS, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
* International Livestock Research Institute, Biotechnology Theme
** REMOC, Lda, Posto Fomento do Impaputo
*** ARC-Animal Production Institute, Irene, South Africa
soniaamaciel@gmail.com

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the growth performance of two Nguni ecotypes and its crosses (Nguni x Landim) raised under the same feedlot conditions at the Posto Fomento do Impaputo, in southern Mozambique. Live weight feedlot data, from entry to marketing, were collected every fortnight between 1999 and 2009 from 453 oxen of the Nguni and Landim male ecotypes, as well as the crosses .

Year-season of birth had significant effects on live weight at entry in the feedlot and at marketing age. Overall means for average age at entry in the feedlot was 31.8 ± 4 months, with the Landim being younger than the Cross (p=0.07). The average live weight at entry in the feedlot was 390 ± 42.5 kg, with no differences between ecotypes (p>0.05). Males born in dry year-seasons were heavier than males born in wet years-seasons (p<0.0001 to p<0.05).The average age at marketing of the Nguni ecotypes was 34.4 ± 5.08 months, with the Landim being younger (p<0.05) than the Cross. The average live weight at marketing was 446 ± 42.2 kg. The average live weights at entry and at marketing were higher in dry years-seasons than in wet years-seasons. There were no differences between ecotypes for average daily gain (0.89 ± 0.79 kg) in this study. Growth rates for the feedlot in the Nguni cattle obtained in this study were substantially lower than that obtained for the Ngunis in South Africa albeit they entered the feedlot at a much older age. This study demonstrates that in Mozambique feedlot industry is still underdeveloped with main constraints on feed resources, especially concentrates.

Keywords: beef, calving, indigenous, livestock development, Sanga, sub-tropical environment

Introduction

Landim cattle in Mozambique, commonly known as Nguni in southern Africa region, accounts for approximately 70% of the total cattle population in the country. It is mainly distributed in the south provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane (Rocha et al  1991). Due to its calving and weaning rates, associated with good dressing out percentages that can reach between 51% and 57% at 3 – 4 years of age with supplementary feeding during dry season, it has been successfully used for meat production (Catalão and Syrstad  1990). In southern Africa, cattle production faces many challenges due to harsh climate and high incidence of diseases (Scholtz  1988).  

Being a common indigenous breed in this region, Nguni cattle,  represents the choice for breeding programs taking into consideration environmental, socio-economic and biophysical parameters. In Mozambique, most research data on Nguni growth performance has been carried out under grazing conditions at the Chobela Research Station. Comparisons of its performance have been made only against the Afrikaner breed, originally imported from South Africa and also established at the Chobela Research Station over 40 years ago. Since the end of the civil war, with the introduction of the restocking program within the country, Nguni animals were imported from South Africa and other neighboring countries to fulfill the country’s  needs in terms of cattle numbers, types (same at the native Landim breed) and meat supply. National beef production has increased from 15534 tonnes in 2000 to 8101 tonnes in 2010.  Imported beef decreased from 4442 tonnes in 2000 to 3193 tonnes in 2010 (DNSV  2011). Mozambique is still dependent on beef imports to fulfill its needs in animal protein and meat consumption. Feed supply in Mozambique and Maputo province is largely dependent on crop by-products and its imports from the central and northern region of the country, which are the main suppliers of grains, as well as  from neighboring countries. 

The objective of the current study was to compare the growth performance of the two Nguni cattle ecotypes (Nguni and Landim) raised at the Posto Fomento Impaputo (PFI) under the same feedlot conditions, from the age and weigth of entry to the age and weigth at marketing. The hypothesis tested was that the South African Nguni ecotype performs similarly to the Landim under the same feedlot conditions. 

Materials and Methods

Description of the study area/site

Maputo province is characterized by a warm tropical climate with an average temperature of 23.6°C (1994 to 2009),  with a  maximum average of 28.7°C and aminimum average of 18°C. The average annual rainfal ranges between 800 and 1200mm   (www.fao.org/nr/climpag/agroclimdb_en.php; Climate Impact on Agriculture, Climpag). This study was conducted at the Posto Fomento Impaputo (PFI) that borders Swaziland in the south. PFI is at 25.93° Latitude South and 32.16° Longitude East, and at an altitude of 150 m above sea level. It is located in the transition area between the Cordillera of the Great Libombo and the Cordillera of the Small Libombo mountains. 

Management of animals

Animals are managed in accordance with commercial practices on natural grasslands with feed supplementation during dry season. Calves are weighed at birth and weaned at approximately 8 months with an average weight of 140 - 150 Kg.. Potential bulls that are initially selected as replacement breeding bulls remain at PFI, while the rest are moved to another farm, in Magude, where they are also raised on natural grasslands. In Magude, the vegetation is characterized by acacia with savannah  composed of sweet veld mainly of Urochloa sp., Digitaria sp., Panicum sp., Setaria sp. and Cenchrus sp. species. The dominant Acacia trees are the A. ivesis,  A. migraensis and A. nilotica mixed with Dichrostachis sp. and Combretum imberbe. These animals return back to PFI only at about 24 to 30 months of agefor final selection, either as breeding bulls or oxen. Culled bulls are finished in the feedlot for 90 - 120 days and slaughtered at an average live weight of 450 kg.  Dipping against ticks and deworming is done at the time of feedlot entry.  

In the feedlot animals receive a daily ration of mixed grasses composed of  Sorghum sudanensis and Panicum maximum and a concentrate mixture based on ground hay (27.5%), wheat bran (22.5%), chicken litter (10%), copra cake (17.5%), molasses (20%) and salt (2.5%). The concentrate mixture may vary depending on the availability of ingredients, especially cakes such as sunflower, copra or cotton that need to be imported from other regions in Mozambique. Feedlot males are weighed at the entrance in the feedlot and thereafter every forthnight until reaching the desired weight for slaughter, using a calibrated eletronic scale. 

Derivation of Traits

Feedlot performance data were collected between 1999 and 2009, from 453 oxen of the Nguni, Landim and crossbred (Nguni X Landim) ecotypes at PFI. Age at entry in the feedlot was calculated as the period, in days, between the ox’s birth date and the date in which it entered in the feedlot. Weight at entry in the feedlot, in kilograms (kg), was the live weight the oxen had on the day it entered the feedlot. 

Average daily gain (ADG), in kilograms (kg), was calculated as the difference in live weight of the oxen at marketing and minus the live weight at feedlot entry,  divided by the number of days the oxen remained in the feedlot. 

Age at marketing was calculated as the period, in days, between the ox’s birth date and the date in which the ox was disposed for the market. Weight at marketing in the feedlot, in kilograms (kg), was the live weight the oxen had on the day he was sent for market.  

Statistical analysis

Feedlot performance data were analysed using PROC GLM procedure of SAS (2003). The variables analysed were body weigth of oxen at the entrance date in the feedlot, forthnight weights, age and  body weight at disposal for market. Sources of variation or factors that were fitted in the model included breed-type (ecotype) and the year-season of birth.  Least square means for the groups are presented as LS means ± standard errors. 

The age at entry, as well as the age at marketing, were analysed as dependent variables and the fixed effects  were ecotype (Landim, Nguni and crossbred) and Year-season of birth. The following statitiscal model was used:

Y_jk = µ +h_j + ys_k + e_ijk   (Age at entry and at marketing)

Where Y_{ijklm =} the observations on age at entry and at marketing,

µ = the uderlying constant common to all observations,

h_j = the fixed effect for the j^th ecotype (j=1,2,3),

ys_k = the fixed effect of the k^th Year-Season of birth or of marketing (k = 1998, 1999, …., 2009), and

e_ijk = the random residual NID (0, σ²_e).

For the analysis of the dependent variable, ADG, the fixed effect were live weight gains at every fortnight, between the date at entry and the date at marketing and the ecotype (Landim, Nguni and Crossbred). For this variable the following statistical model was used:

            Yij= µ + h_j +e_ij       (ADG)

Where Yij = the observations on ADG in kilograms (kg),

µ, h_j and e_ij = as described in Age at entry and at marketing.

The differences were considered to be significant at P<0.05. 

Results and Discussion

Age and weight at entry in the feedlot

The average age at entry in the feedlot was 31.6 ± 3.97 months, with the Landim having an average age of 31.4 ± 0.43 months, the Cross 32.5 ± 0.43 months and the Nguni 31.8 ± 0.33 months. The Landim tended to be younger than the Cross (p<0.07). Age at entry in the feedlot, in the dry and wet years-seasons, of the different Nguni ecotypes is presented in figure 1.  

Figure 1: Effects of dry (October to April) and wet (May to September) year-seasons on the age of entry in the feedlot, in days, for the Landim, Nguni and Cross ecotypes born in PFI

Average age at entry in the feedlot for animals born in the dry years-seasons was 32.2 ± 0.38 months while for those born in the wet years-seasons was 31.6 ± 0.29 months. Crossbred males born in dry years-seasons were older (p<0.05) than their counterparts born in wet years-seasons and the Landim born in wet and dry-years seasons. They also tended to be older than their Nguni counterparts born in dry years-seasons (p=0.08) and wet years-seasons (p=0.06).  Table 1 presents the average age at entry in the feedlot of the different Nguni ecotypes in wet- and dry-year seasons at PFI.

The crossbreds (Nguni x Landim) were only evaluated in the feedlot in recent years as crossbreeding between the two ecotypes only started in  2003. Existing data on the Landim growth performance referred only to birth, weaning (7 months age) and 18-months old animals grazing at the Chobela Research Station (Catalão and Syrstad  1990; Carvalheira  et al  1995).  Under the experimental  conditions, animals are weaned at 7 months and move to another farm, where they grow on natural grazing areas until reaching maturity, after which they return to PFI for the finishing phase. Average age at entry in the feedlot, for the three Nguni ecotypes born between 1999 and 2007 is presented in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Average age at entry in feedlot, in days, of Nguni ecotypes born between 1999 and 2007 at PFI

The average age at entry in the feedlot was 31.8 ± 3.89 months, with variations over the study period. Table 2 presents the average age at entry during the study, between 1999 and 2007.

Variation in the age at entry in the feedlot was dependent on the available capacity at the PFI. As referred above weaned males went to Magude farm for growing and only came back when capacity for the finishing phase existed at PFI, opting for bringing in heavier males and, therefore, older ones. At the age of entry in the feedlot, males born in 1999, 2004 and 2005 were older (p<0.0001 to p<0.01) than males born in the other years of the study period. Table 3 presents the P values for the average age at entry in the feedlot during the study period.  

The year 1999 was when the feedlot at PFI started with few animals from the farm itself. The years 2004 and 2005 were the best years for buying cattle and PFI used this opportunity to buy males for the feedlot, delaying the entry of their own animals due to limited capacity in  the feedlot. The effect of years-seasons in the weight at entry in the feedlot for the Nguni ecotypes born between 1999 and 2007 at PFI is presented in figure 3.

Figure 3: Effects of dry (May to September) and wet (October to April) years-seasons of birth in the live weight of steers at entry in the feedlot at PFI

The average weight at entry in the feedlot was 390 kg ± 42.5 kg, with no differences between the ecoytpes (p>0.05). Average weight at entry in the feedlot for males born in wet years-seasons was 385 ± 9.19 kg while for males born in dry years-seasons was 395 ± 14.7 kg. Table 4 presents the average live weights at entry in the feedlot of the Nguni steers at PFI in wet and dry year-seasons.  

In dry years-seasons, males born in 2002 and 2003 were different (p<0.0001 to p<0.01) from males born in other years during the study period. Males born in 2007 dry year-season were also different from males born in 1999 through 2005 (p<0.0001 to p<0.01), but not different  from males born in 2003 and 2006. In wet years-seasons, the entry weight of males born in 2001 were different (p< 0.005 to p<0.05) from males born in 1999,  2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2006 (p<0.0001).  Table 5 presents the P values found for the average live weights of steers during the study period in wet and dry year-seasons.

Males born in 2004 were different (p<0.005 to p<0.05) from 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003, while males born in 2006 were different (p<0.0001 to p<0.005 ) from males born in 2001 throughout 2005 and males born in 2007 were different from 2001 (p<0.005) and from 2004 (p<0.005) and 2005 (p<0.05). Males born in wet years-seasons of 2002, 2003 (p<0.0001) and 2007 (p<0.04) were different from its counterparts born in dry years-seasons. In general, wet years-seasons presented more differences between years than dry years-seasons.  

Gertenbach et al (2011) reported live weights at entry in the feedlot of 194 kg and 149 kg for Ngunis from the emerging and communal farmers, respectively. Carvalheira et al. (1995) using different season classifications, early- (July to December) and late-rainy (January to June), noted that animals born in the early wet seasons were heavier than those born in late wet seasons. Relating this seasons’ classification to the current classification, the early-wet season coincides with the study’s dry seasons (May to September) and the late wet- season coincides with the wet seasons. Magude farm, where animals stay until maturity, is characterized by sweet veld with good grass composition and different types of acacia and other trees, as already referred in the methodology. Even though, dry seasons are related to the lack of grass and feed limitations, animals were under very extensive areas of grassland, with good quality standing hay, low carrying capacity (normal = 4Ha per UA; Timberlake and Reddy  1986) and cool weather, which stimulated their feed intake and growth, while animals in wet seasons suffer from humidity and higher temperatures limiting their feed intake, aggravated by night confinement without forage supply, which consequently affected their growth.  

Average Daily Gain

The average daily gain in the feedlot of all Nguni ecotypes was 0.84 ± 0.05 kg, with no differences between ecotypes (p>0.05). The average daily gain of Nguni ecotypes from 2002 to 2009 at PFI is presented in figure 4.

Figure 4: Average daily gain of Nguni male animals in the feedlot between 2002 and 2009 at PFI

Average daily gain (ADG) of animals born in dry year-seasons was 0.88 ± 0.04 kg and for those born in wet year-seasons was 0.81 ± 0.04 kg, with no  differences between seasons (p>0.05). Table 6 presents the average daily gain, in kg, of Nguni steers in the feedlot at PFI during the study period of 2002 to 2009.  

The years of 2003, 2004 and 2005 had ADG different from years 2006, 2007 and 2009 with P values varying from 0.05 to <0.0001. Table 7 presents the P values for the ADG between the years. 

According to the P values on table 7, the ADG on year 2005 differed the most from the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, followed by the difference between the year 2008 and 2009. Carvalheira et al. (1995) reported that, after weaning, the Landim at Chobela had an ADG of 0.267 ± 0.10 kg on natural grazing and no supplementation. Scholtz (2011) on post-weaning feedlot performance reported ADG of 1.12 kg  for the Nguni, 1. 65 kg for the Charolais x Nguni and 1.55 kg for the Simmentaler x Nguni. Gertenbach et al. (2011) found ADG of 1.51 kg and 1.33 kg in Ngunis from emerging and communal farmers of South Africa, respectively. Berthiaume et al. (2006) studying alternative beef production systems, using younger animals (post-weaned 8 months old Angus males) reported an ADG of 0.74 kg for the finishing phase (after 99 days) and 0.85 kg for the overall feedlot system fed only grass silage, which is in agreement with this study, even though the animals in this study went into the feedlot at around two and half years of age.  

Age and live weight at marketing

The average age at marketing of Nguni ecotypes on the feedlot program was 34.4 ± 5.08 months at PFI. Figure 5 presents the average age at marketing of the different Nguni ecotypes in the feedlot at PFI. 

Figure 5: Age at marketing in days of the Landim, Nguni and Cross ecotypes in the feedlot at PFI

The age at marketing of Landim (33.7 ± 0.51 months) differed (p<0.05) from those of the Crossbreds (35.0 ± 0.45 months).  The average age at marketing of the Nguni was 34.5 ± 0.34 months. Table 8 presents the age at marketing of the different Nguni ecotypes submitted to the feedlot at the PFI. 

Graham et al. (2009) slaughtered fast- and slow-growth males at the age of 22.2 ± 0.09 months and 27.8 ± 0.09 month with an average live weight of  550 kg s, respectively. Figure 6 presents the effects of dry- and wet-year seasons on the average live weight at market of the different Nguni ecotypes between 2002 and 2009.

Figure 6: Effects of dry (October to April) and wet (May to September) years-seasons on live weight of Cross, Landim and Nguni ecotypes at marketing in PFI

The average live weight at marketing of steers in feedlot was 446 ± 42.2 kg at PFI. In this study, the average live weight was 437 ± 4.45 kg, 440 ± 4.50 kg and 448 ± 3.18 kg for the Landim, Crossbreds and Nguni ecotypes, respectively. The average live weight of animals born in dry years-seasons was 447 ± 3.35 kg and in wet years-seasons was 436 ± 3.53 kg. Table 9 presents the average live weights at marketing found for the different Nguni ecotypes in wet- and dry-year seasons at the PFI.  

The Landim born in wet years-seasons differed from the Nguni born in dry-years seasons (p<0.005) and from the crosses born in wet years-seasons (p<0.05), while the Nguni born in dry-years seasons differed (p<0.01) from the Crossbreds born in wet-years seasons. Higher live weights for animals born in dry-year seasons than those born in wet-year seasons seem to be related to lower temperatures, which consequently increases feed intake enhanced by good quality hay of mixed grasses such as Panicum maximum, Sorghum sudanensis, Cenchrus sp., etc. These live weight differences at marketing might also be due to differences in the feed conversion by the different ecotypes. Correlations between weight at marketing and weight at entry in the feedlot or birth weight can also be possible as animals were in similar feedlot rations.   

Gertenbach et al. (2011)  reported final weights (18 months weight) of 391 kg and 324 kg on the Nguni from the emerging and communal farming sectors, while Strydom et al. (2000) as quoted by Gertenbach et al. (2011) reported slaughter weights of 298 ± 1.8 kg for the Nguni. Berthiaume et al.(2006) found that Angus steers fed with grass silage had an average live weight of 451.2 kg at slaughter at about 14 months age, while Nkrumah et al. (2007) using 464 steers of synthetic breeds of Angus, Charolais, Hereford and Galloway as well as crosses with Holstein, Brown Swiss and Simmental, reported a final live weight of 459 ± 65.7 kg and a slaughter weight of 536 ± 60.3 kg. Graham et al. (2009) using the fast- and slow-growth rate steers reported a slaughter live weight of 539 ± 4.01 kg and 551 ± 4.01 kg, respectively. Although the results in this study indicate that Nguni ecotypes can have similar live weights at market as exotic and synthetic breeds, the feedlot conditions, the highly specialized meat production of the mentioned breeds and the age at which these animals are slaughtered  have to be taken into account.   

Conclusions

• As in PFI, feedlot systems in southern Mozambique are very dependent on the feed availability, especially concerning industrial by-products such as brans and cakes, and also mineral/ vitamin licks. With exception for age at entry for the crossbred oxen born in dry years-seasons, age at entry and age at marketing in the feedlot were not affected by years-seasons. The Landim was younger than the crossbreds at entry in the feedlot. Both live weights at entry in the feedlot and at marketing were higher in animals born in dry years-seasons than those born in wet years-seasons. This might have been due to more favourable weather conditions, like lower temperatures, in these seasons, which enhanced feed intake and growth in the feedlot. Animals born in dry seasons always have the advantage of the subsequent wet seasons, with more feed available, as opposed to animals born in wet seasons which are really affected by the subsequent dry seasons.This is the first time that a study on cattle feedlot performance and on the different Nguni ecotypes is carried out in Mozambique. This study demonstrates that when Nguni animals are subjected to improved feeds and feedlot conditions they can have growth rates comparable to some of the  specialized beef breeds raised on grass silage feeds under feedlot conditions, although in this study, growth rates of the Nguni cattle were substantially lower than that obtained for the Nguni cattle in South Africa albeit they entered the feedlot at a much older age. It also demonstrates that in Mozambique the feedlot industry is still underdeveloped with main constraints on feed resources, especially concentrates.

  
  

• Furhter studies would be required to analyse growth rates, meat quality, marbling and residual feed intake of the Nguni ecotypes under more consistent types of diets at post-weaning and the influence of different years-seasons on their meat production performance in order to make beef production systems economically feasible.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the AWARD research placement fellowship, ILRI and REMOC Lda, who are the PFI managers, and its staff for managing the animals and making the data available for our research. This work is based on research supported in part by Red Meat Research and Development South Africa and the National Research Foundation of South Africa, under grant UID 75121.

References

Berthiaume R, Mandell I, Faucitano L and Lafrenière C 2006 Comparison of alternative beef production systems based on forage finishing or grain-forage with or without growth promotants: 1. Feeldot performance, carcass quality, and production costs. Journal of Animal Science 84: 2168 – 2177  

Catalão D and Syrstad O 1990 Productivity of the Nguni and Africander cattle in Mozambique. Livestock Production Science 24:29 

Carvalheira J G, Blake RW, Pollak E J and Van Soest, P J 1995 Comparison of Landim and Africander cattle in souithern Mozambqiue:1. Body weights and growth. Journal of Animal Science 73: 3519-3526 

DNSV 2011 Relatório Anual dos Serviços de Veterinária. Direcção Nacional dos SErviços de Veterinária. Ministério da Agricultura. Maputo. Moçambique

Gertenbach W D, Dugmore T J, Schotlz M M and Kirkman K 2011 The production potential of Nguni cattle. In: The Nguni breed of cattle - past, present and future. Nguni Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa. South Africa 

Graham J F, Byron J, Clark A J, Kearney G and Orchard B 2009 Effect of postweaning growth and bulls selected for extremes in retail beed yield and intramuscular fat on progeny live weight and carcass traits. Animal Production Science 49: 493 – 503  

National Directorate of Veterinary Services (DNSV) 2011 Annual Report. Ministry of Agriculture. Maputo, Mozambique 

Nkrumah J D Basarb J A, Wang Z, Li C, Price M A, Okine E K, Crews D R and Moore S S 2007 Genetic and phentoypic relationships of feed intake and measures of efficieny with growth and carcass merit of beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 85: 2711 – 2720 

Rocha, A, Starkey P and Dionisio A C 1991 Cattle production and utilisation in smallholder farming systems in Southern Mozambique. Agricultural Systems 37: 55 – 75. 

SAS 2003  SAS/STAT User’s Guide. Version 9.2. Edition. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA

Scholtz M M 1988 Selection possibilities of hardy beef breeds in Africa: the Nguni example. In: Proc.3^rd World Congr. Sheep and Beef Cattle Breed. Pp.303-319. Paris, France 

Scholtz M M 2011 Future Prospects for the Nguni breed in South Africa. In: The Nguni breed of cattle - past, present and future. Nguni Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa. South Africa 

Timberlake J R and Reddy S J 1986 Potential pasture productivity and livestock carrying capacity over Mozambique. Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agronómica. Série Terra e Água, Comunicação nº 49, Maputo, Moçambique

Received 19 June 2012; Accepted 21 May 2013; Published 2 June 2013

Go to top