Performace of two and three way crossbred dairy cattle at Holetta Research Center in central highlands of Ethiopia: growth rate
2003
Gizachew Bekele(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia)) | Zelalem Yielma(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia)) | Tadese Bekele(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia)) | Alemu Gebrewold(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia)) | Sandros Demeke(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia)) | Yohannes Gojjam(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia)) | Roman Haileselassie(Holetta Research Center, Holetta (Ethiopia))
Birth weight and the mean daily weight gain up to 90 days, 180 days and one year of age and weight attained at those three age groups of 127 two breed (Friesian and Boran) and 87 three breed cross (Friesian, Jersey and Boran) calves born from 1990 to 1999 was studied. The overall means of daily weight gain up to 90 days, 180 days and one year of age was 340 gm, 330 gm and 250 gm per day respectively. Least square mean birth weight were not significantly (p0.05) different between two and three breed crosses. Two breed crosses were heavier by 3 kg (6%) than three breed crosses at the age of 90 days. This significant (p0.05) weight difference was also reflected in average daily weight gain from birth to 90 days, where two breed crosses gained 31 gm (9.7%) more weight daily than three breed crosses. However rate thereafter up to one year of age was not markedly different (p0.05). The average daily weight gain of 50% Friesian crossbred calves were significant (p0.05) when compared to 25% Friesian and 25% Jersey crossbred calves up to the age of 90 days (370 gm Vs 320 gm/day). But the gain was not persistent and the average daily weight gain was not significant to any other exotic blood level group when we considered growth rate up to 180 days or till one year of age.
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