1Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
*Corresponding Author: V.M.O. Okoro, Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa, Email: melavicong@gmail.com
Online published on 30 July, 2020.
This study was conducted to identify weaning percentage drivers among cattle farmers in Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Two hundred (200) household cattle farmers were randomly selected from four major rural farming communities of Mpumalanga province of South Africa and questionnaires administered on management and production of cattle. Data generated was analyzed descriptively before ordered logit regression analysis model was used to identify determinants of weaning percentage among cattle farmers. Results indicate that majority of farmers mated their heifers at young age (below 2yrs) while medium calving percentage was maintained by majority of respondents. Among the production parameters influencing weaning percentage among cattle farmers in the Province, only calving percentage and weaning age significantly (P<0.05) determined the weaning percentage based on ordered logit analysis. Hence calving percentage and weaning age are very critical factors for productivity and profitability of cattle farming enterprise in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Calving percentage, Heifers, Ordered logit, Questionnaires, Regression
