Risk factors underlining reproductive performance in smallholder beef cattle herds of South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Improving the historically low reproductive performance of beef cattle in smallholder systems is essential for its productivity and profitability. Therefore, identifying and addressing risk factors associated with low performance in this system present an opportunity for improvement. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of animal and management risk factors on pregnancy rate (PR), fetal and calf loss (FC), calving interval (CI) and days open (DO) in smallholder beef cattle farms. A multi-stage selection approach was conducted in five provinces of South Africa. Cow records (3694) collected from 40 smallholder herds over two years (2018-2019) were analysed. Data on animal and herd management factors including body condition score (BCS), cow age class, breed type, lactation status, culling

SUBMITTER: Nkadimeng M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11446968 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature