Survival of Holstein Friesian heifers through to fourth calving on a research farm.
This study monitored survival up to fourth calving and reasons to culling of a number of 202 Holstein Friesian heifers on research farm at Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Simnic, Craiova. Heifers born between 2016 and 2019 were monitored from 1 months of age trough to forth calv...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
Agroprint Timisoara
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/0ed802619310420ba927acdb36715857 |
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| Sumario: | This study monitored survival up to fourth calving and reasons to culling of a number of 202 Holstein Friesian heifers on research farm at Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Simnic, Craiova. Heifers born between 2016 and 2019 were monitored from 1 months of age trough to forth calving. The survival of animals was calculated during 4 lifetime phases: (1) rearing period; (2) lactation 1; (3) lactation 2; (4) lactation 3. Also 4 longevity traits were calculated for all animals culled before forth calving: (1) age to culling; (2) herd life; (3) total lifetime days in milk (DIM); and 4 longevity index.
During the rearing period 6.9% of the total heifers at 1 month did not survive until first calving (0% longevity index). Of those that did calve (n = 188), 12.7% were culled in lactation 1, with a longevity index of 28.4%. In the second lactation 15.2% of the cows that did calve for the second time (n = 164) were culled, with a longevity index of 44%, and in the third lactation 19.4% of the cows that did calve for the third time (n = 139) were culled with a longevity index of 53.5%. Of all animals recruited at 1 month of age 55.4% (n = 112/202) calved for a fourth time. The primary cause for culling was infertility. These results show that some of heifers never become productive or are culled before they reach their full lactation potential. |
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