Drought ability of bullocks: A review

Abstract

Draught animals are an important source of power for millions of developing country farmers. Efforts to improve draught animal productivity must view the situation from a farming system's perspective and adopt a nlulti-disciplinary approach involving breeding, nutrition, health care and engineering aspects. Measurenlent of animal performance is needed for research in to aU these aspects and methods of varying sophistication are described. Elnphasis is put on the CTVM (Centre for Tropical V~eterinary Medicine) and AFRC (Agriculture and Food Research Council) equipment capable of measuring 111echanical variables (force and speed) at the same time as physiological parameters (heart rate, breathing rate, stepping rate, temperature). This article reviews the research conducted on various aspects related to the physiological and haen1atological parameters and related engineering measures on the draught power of bullocks. The review considers the work carried out till 2008.