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Factors affecting the shape of the lactation curve in cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. D. P. Wood
P. D. P. Wood
Affiliation:
Milk Marketing Board, Thames Ditton, Surrey
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Summary

The lactation curve in cattle has been explained by the expression yn = Anbe-cn where yn is the average daily yield in the nth week, and A, b, and c are constants. In general, in a sample of 859 Friesian lactations recorded during 1964–65 daily yield was depressed during the winter months (18·8% in January) and stimulated during the spring (14·7% in May) to an extent which was independent of the stage of lactation. Winter calvers on the other hand tended to produce more in total lactation than spring calvers (14·5% for animals calving in November as opposed to those calving in April).

Using a suitable technique it is possible to predict month by month output from a cow, or herd, accurately enough to furnish a basis for forward planning.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , August 1969 , pp. 307 - 316
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1969

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References

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