ISSN 2277-0836; Volume 1, Issue 7, pp. 116-121; December 2012. Journal of Agriculture and Biodiversity Research ©2012 Online Research Journals Full Length Research Available Online at http://www.onlineresearchjournals.org/JABR Cattle Productivity and Nutritional Limitation in the Semi-Arid Makgadikgadi Region of Botswana Olaotswe O. Kgosikoma 1 *, Kabo Mogotsi 2 , and Shimane W. Makhabu 3 Range and Pasture Program, Animal Production and Range Research Division, Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture 1 P/Bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana. 2 P. O. Box 10275, Francistown, Botswana. 3 Department of Basic Sciences, Botswana College of Agriculture, P/Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana. Downloaded 12 September, 2012 Accepted 20 October, 2012 Cattle growth and reproductive performance in the semi-arid Makgadikgadi region of Botswana was investigated. Calving Rates (CR) and Growth Rates (GR) of Brahman beef cattle breed were used as indicators of productivity and covered the periods of 2005-2009. Animal nutritional status involved collection of faecal samples from rectums of 20 randomly selected cattle while the clipping method was used to collect herbaceous samples from 1m 2 plots randomly located both in the Nata ranch and adjacent communal grazing areas. The herbaceous sampling period covered the wet season, late wet season, dry season and late dry season. The mean calving rate for Brahman cattle in the study area was relatively low (46.37 ± 3.45%). The growth rate prior to weaning and post-weaning for both male and female calves were poor compared to the national average productivity indicators. Faecal samples indicated significantly low N levels (P<0.05) during the dry season which fell below animal weight maintenance requirements, but peaked during the wet season. Faecal P significantly varied between sampling periods, which was associated with rainfall distribution. The lowest faecal P was observed during the late wet season whilst the highest amounts were observed during the late dry season. Forage nutritive value (especially CP, P and Ca) varied significantly (P<0.05) with seasons. The study concluded that cattle performance in Makgadikgadi region could be limited by nutritional deficiency. Thus, appropriate supplementation strategies can be developed to address mineral imbalances observed especially during the dry seasons. Keywords: Brahman, calving rate, communal and ranching systems, forage quality, growth rate, nutritional deficiency. INTRODUCTION In arid environments, livestock production is the predominant land use and the most viable source of livelihood, especially for rural communities [1-3]. However, livestock production efficiency (i.e. growth and reproductive performance) in these regions is limited by poor nutrition [4]. Grazing animals are dependent on rangelands for their nutritional supply and therefore, their production performance is highly influenced by seasonal variation in forage quality and quantity, which in turn is *Corresponding Author's E-mail: mfana450@yahoo.com ; Tel: (+267) 3668162 regulated by rainfall variability [5]. It is widely acknowledged that poor reproductive and growth performance of grazing animals can specifically be attributed to low protein, imbalance of phosphorus, calcium and other minerals in forage [6,7]. However, rangelands are spatially extensive [8] and vegetation composition differs in response to soil fertility, rainfall and grazing pressure [9,10]. This in turn, influence variation on forage nutritious limitation to grazing livestock productivity in that particular ecosystem [11] and threaten the livelihood of pastoral communities who are dependent on livestock. The improvement of nutrition of grazing animals is therefore a prerequisite for increased animal production efficiency [7].