Chimonyo M, Kusina N T, Hamudikuwanda H, Nyoni O
University of Zimbabwe, Department of Animal Science, PO Box MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2000 Dec;32(6):405-15. doi: 10.1023/a:1005285720169.
The reproductive performance of 46 cows in a semi-arid, smallholder farming area of Zimbabwe was monitored for a year. Half the cows were used throughout the monitoring period for various draught purposes, including ploughing and procurement of farm produce for marketing using carts. All the cows lost body weight between July and October, after which the cows that were not worked gained weight until June of the following year. In contrast, the cows that were worked continued to lose body weight until January, throughout the time during which they were used to provide draught power, after which they gained weight. Body weights were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in non-working than in working cows in January and February. Ovarian activity was higher (p < 0.001) in non-working compared to working cows, particularly between November and February, while calving rates were also higher (p < 0.05) in non-working cows. It is concluded that using cows for draught purposes caused loss of body weight and reduced ovarian activity and conception rates.
在津巴布韦一个半干旱的小农户养殖区，对46头母牛的繁殖性能进行了为期一年的监测。在整个监测期内，一半的母牛被用于各种役用目的，包括耕地以及用马车采购农产品用于销售。所有母牛在7月至10月期间体重下降，之后未被用于役用的母牛体重增加，直到次年6月。相比之下，被用于役用的母牛体重持续下降，直到1月，即在它们被用于提供役力的整个期间，之后体重才增加。1月和2月时，未参与役用的母牛体重显著高于参与役用的母牛（p < 0.05）。与参与役用的母牛相比，未参与役用的母牛卵巢活动更活跃（p < 0.001），尤其是在11月至2月期间，而且未参与役用的母牛产犊率也更高（p < 0.05）。研究得出结论，将母牛用于役用会导致体重减轻、卵巢活动减少以及受孕率降低。
