PERFORMANCE PROFILE OF FRIESIAN COWS KEPT IN BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

Published: November 20, 2011

Source : Muhammad Bilal, Masood ul Haq, Muhammad Azam Kakar, Muhmmad Khalid Baloch and Shakeel Babar

Summary

Holstein-Friesian heifers were imported from Denmark in 1977 by Balochistan Govt. to meet the milk demand of the province. The study was planned to investigate their productivity potentials [age at first calving, birth weight, lactation length or milk yield, milk yield per lactation, culling and mortality etc] and reproductive performance [service period, age at first service, gestation period and calving interval etc.]. Data on these animals were generated under the local conditions of Balochistan. Overall average values for AFS were 660.42±12.42d, GP 280.62±0.25d, AFC 944.08±12.71d, BWT 30.12±0.15kg, MY 3731.26±40.52 liters, DIM were 313.56±3.83d, SP 240±9.61d, DP averaged as 59.15±20.61 d while CI 451.10±5.55d. The effect of year, season, age and location were studied and the results revealed that the year affected the AFS, AFC, BWT, Middle and SP (P<0.01); GP (P<0.05) but not DIM and CI (P>0.05). No effect of season on AFS, AFC, DIM, MY, SP and CI (P>0.05) was observed except GP and BWT (P<0.05). The age affected the GP and SP (P<0.05) but not on BWT, DIM, MY and CI (P>0.05). No effect of sex of the calves, type of birth and calving number on GP (P>0.05) was seen. Location of the farm did exert effect on AFS, AFC, BWT and MY (P<0.01), CI (P<0.05) but on GP, DIM and SP (P>0.05). Based on the results of the study, efficient and proper management of productive and reproductive parameters will be needed for improved production. Keywords: Friesian, Holstein, cow, performance, sex ratio, Balochistan, Pakistan

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