Analysis of heifers rearing from different lactation dairy cows
2016
Eihvalde, E., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia) | Kairisa, D., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
The research was conducted in Latvia University of Agriculture Research and Study Farm ‘Vecauce’ in 600 dairy cows herd, in the period from 2009 to 2013. Within the framework of the research, growth indicators (from birth till the first delivery) of 102 dairy cow calves were analysed. Live weight and hip height of the heifers were found out at birth, at the age of 6 and 12 months, at first insemination and first calving. Heifers born to primiparous cows in both breed groups had notably lower live weight (42.0 and 42.4 kg), as compared to the 4th group heifers born to mature cows (p is less than 0.05). At the age of one year, the greatest weight among the red breed animals was recorded for the 4th group heifers born to mature cows (on average 354.8 ± 7.09 kg), while in Holstein breed those were heifers born to mothers calving on average for the 2nd time (on average 363.0 ± 6.47 kg). The 4th group heifers born to mature Holstein cows had notably greater hip height at birth – on average 78.1 ± 0.9 cm (p is less than 0.05). Heifers of red and Holstein breeds on average were inseminated at the age of 14.6 – 14.8 months as they reached live weight 395 – 396.5 kg. Heifers of red breeds on average calved at the age of 25.8 months, whereas Holstein heifers - of 26.4 months. The research aimed at analysing growth rates of heifers born to dairy cows at different age.
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