Factors affecting the body condition score of N'Dama cows under extensive range management in Southern Senegal

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the factors affecting N'Dama heifer and adult cow body conditions, which were scored between 0 and 5 points (BCS), in Southern Senegal under an extensive range management system. BCS at 3 years of age was mainly affected by the prevailing season and birth date. The means were 3.52, 3.41 and 3.12 for births occurring respectively in the rainy season (RS), in the cool dry season (CDS) and in the hot dry season (HDS). BCS at calving was mainly affected by the calving season, with average scores of 3.12, 2.77 and 2.40 in the RS, CDS and HDS, respectively. When removing the effects of calving season and parity, 3 patterns of BCS profile appeared between the 6th month of pregnancy and the 2nd month of lactation. Cow body condition at any given month "t" compared to the threshold of 2.5 points could be predicted by the BCS during the two previous months, parity, physiological status, herd size and season.