Hostname: page-component-6b989bf9dc-mbg9n Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-15T00:45:38.927Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Lactation curves of Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian x Gir cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

F. E. Madalena
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa, Gado deLeite, 36155 Coronel Pacheco-MG, Brazil
M. L. Martinez
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa, Gado deLeite, 36155 Coronel Pacheco-MG, Brazil
A. F. Freitas
Affiliation:
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa, Gado deLeite, 36155 Coronel Pacheco-MG, Brazil
Get access

Abstract

Linear y = a′ + b′x and gamma type y = ea−cx xb models for the lactation curve (y = daily production on day x of lactation) were adjusted to daily production records of 870 lactations. Within- lactations pooled R2 = 0·71 and R2 = 0·74 were respectively obtained for the linear and gamma type models, the latter being preferred for further analyses on account of its general validity under varied circumstances.

The parameters a, b, c of individual gamma type lactation curves were analysed by least squares within a subset of 634 lactations from Holstein-Friesian (HPB), 1/2 HPB: 1/2 Gir (F1) and 3/4 HPB: 1/4 Gir (B1) cows. Crossbreds had both higher initial production and higher persistency of lactation than purebred cows. F1's had higher initial production than B1's, both groups having similar persistency of lactation. Cows calving during the rainy season had higher initial production than cows calving in the dry season, which, however, had more persistent lactations. Parity affected only the initial production a parameter, which was lower for first calvers, while the other parity classes had similar a values.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

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

REFERENCES

Branton, C., Rios, G., Evans, D. L., Farthing, B. R. and Koonce, K. L. 1974. Genotype-climatic and other interaction effects for productive responses in Holsteins. J. Dairy Sci. 57: 833841.Google Scholar
Gaudefroy-Demombynes, P. 1961. [Lactation of N'Dama cows at CRA Bambey.] Agron. trap., Nogent 16: 417432.Google Scholar
Gill, G. S., Balaine, D. S. and Acharya, R. M. 1970. Persistency and peak yield in Hariana cattle. 1. Effects of environmental and physiological factors. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 40: 563568.Google Scholar
Jordão, L. P. and Assis, F. P. 1948. [Persistency of milk production in the herd at the Animal Production Experimental Station, Pindamonhangaba.] Bolm Ind. anim. 10: 529.Google Scholar
Labouche, C. 1957. [The physiology of lactation in a tropical environment. 1. Lactation curves studied in the sub-Guinean Region of the Cap. Vert Peninsula (Senegal).] Revue EAev. Med. vet. Pays trop., 10: 2739.Google Scholar
Madalena, F. E., Freitas, A. F. and Martinez, M. L. 1979. Comparative evaluation of milk production of Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Gir cows. Proc. 4th Wld Conf. Anim. Prod., B. Aires, Argentina, 1978. In press.Google Scholar
Mahadevan, P. 1966. Breeding for milk production in tropical cattle. Tech. Comm. No. 17. Commonw. Agric. Bur., Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire.Google Scholar
Mahadevan, P. and Hutchison, H. G. 1964. The performance of crosses of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle for milk production in the coastal region of Tanganyika. Anim. Prod. 6: 331336.Google Scholar
Ministério Da Agricultura, Brasil. 1968. Normais Climatológicas. MG—ES—RJ—GB, Escritório de Meteorologia-Rio de Janeiro (Mimeograph).Google Scholar
Pradhan, V. D. and Dave, A. D. 1973. A study on the lactation curve and rate of decline in milk yield in Kankrej cattle. Indian J. Anim. Sci. 43: 914917.Google Scholar
Saxena, P. N. and Kumar, S. 1960. Persistency of milk yield in Sahiwal cows. Indian J. Dairy Sci. 13: 4560.Google Scholar
Scheffé, H. 1959. The Analysis of Variance. J. Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar
Searle, S. R. 1971. Linear Models. J. Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar
Singh, S. B., Dutt, M., and Desai, R. N. 1965. Persistency of milk yield in Hariana cattle. Indian J. vet. Sci. 35: 249257.Google Scholar
Vega, O. P. C. 1963. [Preliminary study of the lactation curve in Criollo cattle.] Agronomía trop. 13: 6381.Google Scholar
Wilson, P. N. and Houghton, T. R. 1962. The development of the herd of Holstein-Zebu cattle at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad. Emp. J. exp. Agric. 30: 159180.Google Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1967. Algebraic model of the lactation curve in cattle. Nature, Lond. 216: 164165.Google Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1968. Factors affecting persistency of lactation in cattle. Nature, Lond. 218: 894.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1969. Factors affecting the shape of the lactation curve in cattle. Anim. Prod. 11: 307316.Google Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1972. A note on seasonal fluctuations in milk production. Anim. Prod. 15: 8992.Google Scholar
Wood, P. D. P. 1976. Algebraic models of the lactation curves for milk, fat and protein production, with estimates of seasonal variation. Anim. Prod. 22: 3540.Google Scholar