Nongenetic factors influencing the weight and growth of Borgu calves at the Okpara breeding farm in Benin

A study was carried out from records on 453 calves kept at the Okpara Breeding Farm between 1994 and 1998. Nongenetic factors affecting the birth weight, weight at three and twelve months of age as well as average daily gains from birth to three months, birth to twelve months and three to twelve months were investigated. A linear model comprising the fixed effects of birth season, birth year, dam age at calving and sex was used to perform the analysis of variance by the least squares. The birth season had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on weight and average daily gains. The best weight performance was observed in animals born during the rainy season. The birth year significantly (p < 0.001) influenced the birth weight, weight at twelve months and average daily gains from birth to twelve months. The effect of dam age at calving was observed in twelve-month-old calves (p < 0.05) and in average daily gains from birth to twelve months (p < 0.05). The male weight at birth was significantly higher than that of females (p < 0.05).