Phenotypic characterization of white Fulani (Bunaji) and Bunaji x Friesian breed of cattle from National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) cattle herd from Nigeria

Phenotypic characterization of Bunaji (White Fulani) and Bunaji x Friesian breed cattle of the institutional herd of National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Shika; Kaduna State, Nigeria was carried out for the purpose of comparism. A total of 163 cattle were used comprising 20 Bunaji Bulls, 106 Bunaji cows and 37 Bunaji x Friesian. Data measured directly from the animals in the herd include: heart girth (HG), withers height (WH), tail length (TL), body weight (BW), forehead length (FL) and scrotal circumference (SC). Those extracted from the herd’s record corresponding to each animal were: length of productive life (LPD), daily milk yield (DMY), lactation yield (LY), calving interval (CI), number of days dry (NDD) and age at first calving (AFC). HG, WH and BW were significantly different (P < 0.05) between Bunaji bulls and Bunaji cows. HG, WH, CI, NDD and AFC were significantly different (P < 0.05) between Bunaji cow and Bunaji x Friesian cows. However, there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) in TL, LPF, DMY and LY between Bunaji cows and Bunaji x Friesian cows. From the results, it is obvious that the Bunaji can perform comparatively well as the Bunaji x Friesian when managed under the same conditions.