Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-8mjnm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T02:22:17.667Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of dam parity and pre-weaning average daily gain of Holstein calves on future milk production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2016

Fatemeh Hoseyni
Affiliation:
Magsal Dairy Farm, Qazvin, Iran
Ehsan Mahjoubi*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
Davood Zahmatkesh
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
Mehdi Hossein Yazdi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Agriculture Faculty, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: e_mahjoubi@znu.ac.ir; e_mahjoubi133@yahoo.com

Abstract

This research communication describes relationships between pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and dam parity with future productivity of dairy calves. Higher ADG before weaning has been shown to be related to greater milk production in the first lactation of Holstein calves fed milk replacer. However, data is limited on the relationship between pre-weaning ADG and first lactation performance of Holstein calves fed whole milk. Data of three hundred and thirty-two Holstein calves from 35 primiparous and 297 multiparous cows was investigated to evaluate the relationship between the dam parity and pre-weaning ADG with the first lactation performance. Results indicated that birth (P < 0·01), and weaning body weight (P < 0·001) were greater in calves born from multiparous cows. Neither 305 d milk production nor pre-weaning ADG differed significantly between calves born to primiparous or multiparous cows, although milk yield tended to be higher in the former and ADG higher in the latter. Correlations between 305 d milk yield and pre-weaning ADG, dam parity and birth body weight were low and non-significant, although there was a tendency for a positive correlation between ADG and milk yield.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2016 

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

Elzo, AM, Quaas, RL & Pollak, EJ 1987 Effects of age of dam on weight traits in the Simmental population. Journal of Animal Science 64 9921001 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faber, SN, Faber, NE, McCauley, TC & Ax, RL 2005 Case study: Effects of colostrum ingestion on lactational performance. Professional Animal Scientist 21 420425 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Græsbøll, K, Kirkeby, C, Nielsen, SS & Christiansen, LE 2015 Danish Holsteins favor bull offspring: biased milk production as a function of fetal sex, and calving difficulty. PLoS ONE 10 e0124051 Google Scholar
Gregory, KE, Cundiff, LV, Smith, GM, Laster, DB & Fitzhugh, HA Jr 1978 Characterization of biological types of cattle – cycle II: I. Birth and weaning traits. Journal of Animal Science 47 1022 Google Scholar
Hinde, K, Carpenter, AJ, Clay, JS & Bradford, BL 2014 Holsteins favor Heifers, not Bulls: biased milk production programmed during pregnancy as a function of fetal sex. PLoS ONE 9 e86169 Google Scholar
Kertz, AF & Loften, JR 2013 Review: A historical perspective of specific milk-replacer feeding program in the United States and effects on eventual performance of Holstein dairy calves. Professional Animal Scientist 29 321332 Google Scholar
Kiezebrink, DJ, Edwards, AM, Wright, TC, Cant, JP & Osborne, VR 2015 Effect of enhanced whole-milk feeding in calves on subsequent first-lactation performance. Journal of Dairy Science 98 349356 Google Scholar
Lubritz, DL, Forrest, K & Robison, OW 1989 Age of cow and age of dam effects on milk production of Hereford cows. Journal of Animal Science 67 25442549 Google Scholar
Moallem, U, Werner, D, Lehrer, H, Zachut, M, Liveshitz, L, Yakoby, S & Shamay, A 2010 Long-term effects of ad libitum whole milk prior to weaning and prepubertal protein supplementation on skeletal growth rate and first-lactation milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 93 26392650 Google Scholar
Morrison, SJ, Wicks, HC, Fallon, RJ, Twigge, J, Dawson, LE, Wylie, AR & Carson, AF 2009 Effects of feeding level and protein content of milk replacer on the performance of dairy herd replacements. Animal 3 15701579 Google Scholar
Raeth-Knight, M, Chester-Jones, H, Hayes, S, Linn, J, Larson, R & Ziegler, D 2009 Impact of conventional or intensive milk replacer programs on Holstein heifer performance through six months of age and during first lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 92 799809 Google Scholar
Soberon, F & Van Amburgh, ME 2013 The effect of nutrient intake from milk or milk replacer of preweaned dairy calves on lactation milk yield as adults: a meta-analysis of current data. Journal of Animal Science 91 7067012 Google Scholar
Soberon, F, Raffrenato, E, Everett, RW & Van Amburgh, ME 2012 Pre-weaning milk replacer intake and effects on long term productivity of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 95 783793 Google Scholar
Yaylak, E, Orhan, H & Daşkaya, A 2015 Some environmental factors affecting birth weight, weaning weight and daily live weight gain of Holstein calves. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology 3 617622 Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Hoseyni supplementary material

Supplementary Table

Download Hoseyni supplementary material(File)
File 42.9 KB