PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN COWS IN
PAKISTAN
A. Sattar, R. H. Mirza, A. A. K. Niazi and M. Latif
Research Institute for Physiology of Animal Reproduction, Bhunikey (Pattoki),
Distt. Kasur, Pakistan-55300.
Abstract
Productive and reproductive performance parameters of
Holstein-Friesian cows kept at the Livestock Experiment Station, Bhunikey (Pattoki),
District Kasur for the period from 1991 to 2000 were studied. The average values for age at maturity, age
at first conception and age at first calving were 652.70 ± 6.98, 714.74 ± 9.72
and 987.87 ± 9.81 days, respectively and the differences of these
parameters during different seasons of birth were
statistically non-significant. The average
calving to first insemination interval, service period and calving interval in
these cows were 113.34 ± 3.45, 222.22 ± 6.87 and 505.02 ± 8.28 days,
respectively. Effect of parity on these parameters was
statistically non-significant. On the other
hand, the effect of calving season on calving to first insemination interval,
service period and calving interval was statistically significant (P<0.05). The
cows calving during humid hot season showed significantly (P<0.05) lower calving
to first insemination and calving interval as compared to those calving during
winter and spring seasons. The cows calving during autumn and humid hot seasons
showed significantly (P<0.05) lower service period as compared to those calving
during winter and spring seasons. The average number of services per conception
was 3.07 ± 0.10. The differences of the number of services per conception during
6th lactation with those of 1st and 8th
lactation were statistically significant (P<0.05). The average gestation period
was 278.61 ± 0.29 days. Higher gestation period was observed in cows carrying
male calves than cows carrying female calves and this difference was
statistically non-significant. The average lactation length and dry period were
291.86 ± 6.55 and 224.99 ± 10.00 days, respectively, while the average lactation
milk yield was 2772.76 ± 65.00 liters. The differences of lactation milk yield
between 7th and 3rd lactation were statistically
significant (P<0.05). Similarly, the lactation milk yield during 6th
lactation was significantly (P<0.05) lower from those of 3rd, 4th
and 5th lactations. The frequencies of calving during winter, spring,
dry hot, humid hot and autumn seasons were 17.73, 16.35, 7.92, 35.45 and 22.55%,
respectively.