Preweaning growth performance of Lagune cattle in Benin

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the birth weight (BW, kg) and weaning (WW, kg) weight and the corresponding average daily gain (ADG, g) of Lagune cattle reared in the Samiondji breeding farm of Benin. A total of 1,414 records from 707 calves, born from 1997 to 2003, were analysed using a general linear procedure (proc GLM). Fixed factors were sex, calving number and year of birth. The weaning age (WAGE) was used as variable. Results of present evaluation showed that BW and WW ranged respectively from 11.65 ±0.20 to 17.40 ±0.33 kg and from 70.21±0.17 to 117.00 ±0.20kg while the ADG from 141.18 ±4.80 to 248.90 ±6.25g. All fixed effects significantly affected the growth traits, except sex for ADG, and year of birth for BW. The WAGE showed a significant linear relationship with ADG.