Effect of suckling on calf preweaning growth and cow reproduction in Horro and crossbred cows
2000
GebreEgziabher Gebreyohanes | Tesfaye Kumsa | Alganesh Tola | Chernet Asfaw (Bako Agricultural Research Center, Bako (Ethiopia))
The effect of suckling on calf preweaning growth performance and cow reproduction of Horro and crossbred cows was studied at Bako Research Center. 24 Horro and 24 Horro-Friesian cows were assigned to there treatments. Accordingly, treatment (p0.01), calf breed (p0.05) and birth weight of the calf (p0.05) had significant effect on weaning weight while pre-weaning weight gain (g/h/day) was significantly affected by treatment (p0.01) and calfbreed (p0.05) only. However, treatment x breed interaction effct was not significant (p0.05). Suckled calves had better weaning weight and preweaning gain than bucket fed calves. Days to conception (p0.01), which in turn has an effect on calving interval, was only affected by treatment. Suckled cows had longer days to conception than milked cows. From this study it has been observed that suckling had a positive (calf growth and milk production) as well as a negative (days to conception and calving interval) effect on the dairy performance of both local and crossbred cows. However, it is ths only viable means of calf rearing under the existing system of production where indigenous cattle breeds are employed for milk production.
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