Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-nmvwc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-13T16:20:03.925Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Causes of variation in milk yield and lactation length of Jersey cattle in Western Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. A. Adeneye  and
T. A. Bamiduro
J. A. Adeneye
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural research and Training, University of Ife, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria
T. A. Bamiduro
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Studies on 59 first four completed lactations of 37 imported Jersey cattle in Western Nigeria showed that their mean lactation length (248·4 days) and average milk yield (1257·4 kg) were inferior to those of their counterparts in other tropical countries. Lactation length following the birth of female calves was longer and milk production greater than those subsequent to male births but the differences were small (P > 0·05). Peak milk production was reached at the third lactation. Influence of season of calving on lactation length was slight; mean milk yield was significantly highest (P < 0·05) among October-December calvers, while the July-December period appeared to be more propitious for milk production. The regression coefficients of lactation length and milk yield on age of dam at calving were negative and unimpressive (P > 0·05), being −2·108 ± 2·661 and −19·106 ± 17·130 respectively. Analysis of variance for weight of milk with lactation length as a covariate revealed that although lactation length was a major (P < 0·001) determinant of milk production, both the period of calving and lactation number had recognizable bearing on milk yield. All interaction effects were trivial (P > 0·05). The period of study was 1968–74.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 89 , Issue 1 , August 1977 , pp. 209 - 214
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Hofmeyr, J. H. & Boyazoglu, J. G. (1962). Notes on a few phenotypic and genotypic parameters of Friesland and Jersey cattle in South Africa. Proceedings of the Second Congress of South African Genetic Society, 1962, 77–83.Google Scholar
Khan, A. W. (1966). Influence of the month of calving on milk yield in Dajal cattle. West Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research 4, 151–7.Google Scholar
Marples, H. J. S. & Trail, J. C. M. (1967). An analysis of a commercial herd of dairy cattle in Uganda. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 44, 69–75.Google Scholar
McIntyre, K. H. (1971). Milk production from Bostaurus dairy cows in Fiji. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 48, 317–26.Google Scholar
Phipps, B. H. (1974). The performance of imported Kenyan and American Jerseys in Uganda. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 39, 381–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steel, R. G. D. & Torrie, J. H. (1960). Principles and Procedures of Statistics. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc.Google Scholar
Stonaker, H. H. & Knapp, B. (1974). Sex of foctus of calf and other factors associated with milk production and lactation length in the Lucerna breed of cattle in Colombia. Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad 51, 421–9.Google Scholar
Todd, J. C.Riggs, J. K. & Smith, J. C. (1968). Milk yields and calf weights from Brahman-Hereford and crossbred cows in the Gulf Coast Prairie. Journal of Animal Science 27, p. 286.Google Scholar
Wilson, L. L., Gilloly, J. E., Ruqh, M. C, Thompson, C. E. & Purdy, H. R. (1969). Effects of energy intake cow body size and calf sex on composition and yield of milk by Angus-Holstein cows and preweaning growth of progeny. Journal of Animal Science 28, 89–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed