ABSTRACT

This work was conducted at livestock unit, Teaching and Research farm of Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike. Data were collected on 30 cattle consisting of (14)pure white Fulani and its Ndama cross bred(l6). Body condition scores (BCS), Body weight (BWT) and other linear body traits were cvuluutcd. During early ruin(Junc),thc mean boc.ly weight of the white Fulani male was significantly higher(260.00±27.1 lkg) than their female(240.57±25.10kg),Also the mean body weight of the male Ndama cross bred (253.75±23.49kg) showed a high level of significance(p<0.05) than their female counterparts(207.63±23.47kg).During mid-rain(August),the mean body weight of both male and female pure·white Fulani were significantly higher(male 340.43±27.14kg) and (female 274.71±27.14) respectively with their Ndama cross-bred weighing (male 232.25±425.38kg) and (female 241.75±38.25kg) respectively. Height at-withers(l-iW),fore-length(FL),l·Iead Circumference(HC),Neck length(NL),Body length(BL) were non-significant (p>0.05) within the early/mid-rain periods. The mean Body Condition Score(BCS) of pure white Fulani in June (male 2.40±0.25) and (female 2.33±0.25) showed that it scored better than their Ndama cross-breds (male 1.97±0.23) and (femalel.84±0.23),while in august, the pure white Fulani maintained a higher mean score of (male 3.00±0.25) and (female 2.89±0.25) than their Ndama cross-bred with scores of (male 2.66±0.23) and (female 2.53±0.23).Based on this study, White Fulani breed performed better compared to its Ndama cross bred, This may be because of high adaptability to tropical _conditions. it is established that ruminants perform better during the rainy season because of the availability of fresh and succulent forage. Also it is observed that body condition score, body weight and other linear body traits are affected by breed, sex, and season