Performance analysis of Holstein-Friesian cattle in intensive management at Dairy Farm Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

The present study was performed to estimate the productive and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cattle. The data on calving (n=600) obtained from cattle (n=100) for lactations (1-6) during last ten years (1997-2006) were analyzed. The herd kept under intensive management at Government Dairy Farm Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. Overall means of the Milk Yield (MY) for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th lactations were 3848.00 plus minus 15.77, 4303.70 plus minus 32.79, 4431.40 plus minus 41.65, 4186.30 plus minus 49.59, 3767.61 plus minus 35.38 and 3329.53 plus minus 28.01 liters, respectively with an overall average of 3977.75 plus minus 37.20 liters. Birth weight of female and male were observed as 35.65 plus minus 0.51 and 39.74 plus minus 0.46 kg, respectively. The results revealed that lactation length (LL), age at maturity (AM), age at first conception (AFCc), age at first calving, (AFC), services per conception (SPC), service period (SP) as days, calving interval (CI) as), and Dry period (DP) 314.19 plus minus 0.91, 625.40 plus minus 14.65, as 655.10 plus minus 10.44, as 894.74 plus minus 13.11, 2.80 plus minus 0.10, 129.95 plus minus 2.14, 408.09 plus minus 2.10, (87.06 plus minus 1.63 days). The results of all traits showed variation, however, MY, BW, SP, CI and DP parameters were only significantly dissimilar (P less than 0.05). Season of calving possessed varying affect on MY, LL, BW and SP on the performance of the Holstein-Friesian cattle herd. It is concluded that productive and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cattle in the present study were low to modest so it is required to improve managemental practices at the farm for better productive and reproductive performance.