Comparative Evaluation of Dairy Performance and Thermoregulatory Traits of Two Exotic Breeds of Cattle in the Hot Humid Climate of Adamawa, Nigeria

The dynamics of heat stress has been a major challenge limiting cattle productivity in Nigeria. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the dairy performance and thermoregulatory of two exotic cattle in hot tropical conditions of Adamawa State. Milk production traits measured were 305 day fat corrected milk yield, daily milk yield, total fat yield, total protein yield while thermoregulatory traits measured were rectal temperature, respiratory rate and skin temperature. All descriptive statistical analyses (Mean, coefficient of variation and standard error of mean) and T-test were done using R commander (2016) Software. Mean separation was done using least significant difference procedure. Milk production and efficiency traits were greatly influenced (P<0.01) by the genotypes of cows in Adamawa State, with the exception of 305FCM per cows per day protein yield, lactation length, net energy efficiency and dairy merits. Brown-Swiss had significant (P < 0.05) higher respiratory rate than Jersey cows. It is evident that considerable variation exists in milk production and thermoregulatory traits of the two exotic cows.