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Department
of Agricultural Research
Beef Cattle
Programme
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Introduction
Beef Research is geared towards
identifying the best beef breed and/or breed crosses for different agro-climatic
zones of Botswana
1)
Identifying the Best Combination of Breeds in Crossbreeding Programme
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Sussex/Tswana steers |
Tswana and Tuli
cows were crossed with exotic breeds such as |
2) Composite
Breed
Developing a synthetic compositebreed by combining thedesirable characters of seven different breed. The breedis under evaluation for five years.
Desirable Features of the Newly Developed
Composite Breed
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Composite calf and Dam |
Composite breed |
(i)
Produces calves yearly with annual calving percentage of 70%
(ii) High mothering ability with average
weight at Birth of 34.5kg
(iii) Calf Mortality is low (about 5% up to
weaning)
(iv) Weighs 190 kg at weaning (7months) and 280 kg at 18 months
(v) Efficient converter of feed, fetches super scale at 21 months of age
3) Improving the Production potential of the
Indigenous Tswana breed through a structured selection programme
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Improved Tswana Male |
The
Tswana population at Musi is being differentially selected for high mothering
ability and for post weaning growth rates. Average weaning weight (at 210 days
of age) of male calves has improved from 158 kg in 1990 to 205kg in 2000.
Average weaning weight of the improved Tswana female calves is about 195 kg.
Tswana steers can even out perform Brahman under feedlot management.
Out come from the breeding
programmes
About
400 improved males and females are being sold annually to beef farmers to improve
their herd performances.