Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T01:21:43.252Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors affecting birth weight of Holstein-Friesian calves in Western Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. A. Adeneye ,
T. A. Bamiduro ,
Adetowun K. Adenbanjo  and
A. A. Akinyemi
J. A. Adeneye
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, University of Ife, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
T. A. Bamiduro
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Adetowun K. Adenbanjo
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, University of Ife, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
A. A. Akinyemi
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, University of Ife, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The birth weight of Friesian and Holstein calves in Western Nigeria was generally lower than that recorded in other tropical countries. This was attributed to a low plane of nutrition during pregnancy and a consequent reduction in length of gestation of the dams. On average, pure-bred Friesian, pure-bred Holstein and Holstein x Friesian calves weighed 29·1, 30·8 and 30·7 kg respectively at birth. Male and female Friesian, Holstein and cross-bred calves averagely weighed 29·9 and 28·2 kg, 29·9 and 31·7 kg, and 32·6 and 28·8 kg respectively. Both the sex differences and breed x sex interaction were not significant.

Positive correlation coefficients of 0·45, 0·38 and 0·26 found between calf birth weight and gestation length for the Friesians (P < 0·05), Holsteins (P < 0·01) and their crosses (P > 0·05) respectively suggest that gestation length had a significant effect on Friesian and Holstein calf birth weight. In many cases, parturition occurred 8–16 days earlier than expected.

Calves born during the rainy season (April–September) were approximately 10% heavier at birth than those born during the dry season (October–March). The heaviest calves were born during the second half (July–September) of the rainy season. The breed x sex x season of calving interaction was significant for the Holstein breed (P < 0·05). Holstein male calves born during the rainy season were significantly (P <; 0·05) heavier than those born during the dry season. Friesian dams with three or more parities and Holstein dams that were 3 years old and above produced calves that were significantly (P < 0·01) heavier at birth than calves of younger dams.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 88 , Issue 1 , February 1977 , pp. 111 - 117
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beckhit, K. G. & Hathout, M. K. (1966). Some factors affecting growth in suckling Friesian calves of an imported herd. Agricultural Research Review, Cairo 44, 92–101.Google Scholar
Ben-David, B. (1967). Gestation length in the Israeli Friesian cow. Clinica veterinaria, Milano 90, 164–72.Google Scholar
Bewg, W. P., Plasto, A. W. & Daly, J. J. (1969). Studies on reproductive performance of beef cattle in a sub-tropical environment. 1. Conception rate, length of oestrus cycle, and length of gestation. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Science 26, 629–37.Google Scholar
Colaghis, S. (1968). Investigations on gestation length of dairy cows in Greece. Animal Breeding Abstracts 36, 588.Google Scholar
Colleau, J. J. (1972). Bilan preliminaire de l'experimentation bovine du Pin-au-Haras. Bulletin Technique, Department de Génétique Animate, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, France No. 14.Google Scholar
Donald, H. P., Russel, W. S. & Taylor, St C. (1962). Birth weights of reciprocally cross-bred calves. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 58, 405–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foote, W. D., Tyler, W. J. & Casida, L. E. (1959). Effect of some genetic and maternal environmental variations on birth weight and gestation length in Holstein cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 42, 305–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Juma, K. H. & Kassir, S.A. (1967). Some factors influencing birth weights of purebred and crossbred Friesian calves. Indian Journal of Dairy Science 20, 19–24.Google Scholar
Legattlt, C. R. & Touchberry, R. W. (1962). Heritability of birth weight and its relationship with production in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 45, 1226–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mendoza, W. C., Baclay, A., Salomon, F. & Tinapay, I. (1965). Birth weights of Holstein and Jersey calves under tropical conditions. Araneta Journal of Agriculture 12, 117–34.Google Scholar
Olubajo, F. O. (1969). Assessment of the productivity, digestibility, and nutritive value of tropical pastures at Ibadan. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Olubajo, F. O. & Oyentoa, V. A. (1970). Digestibility of tropical pasture mixtures using the indicator technique. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 75, 175–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Osman, A. M., Zaki, K. & Afiefy, M. M. (1971). Studies in the growth rate and sexual maturity of Friesian heifers. Veterinary Medicine Journal of the United Arab Republic 19, 227–39.Google Scholar
Oyenuga, V. A. (1966). Grassland research programme, progress report covering the period April 1959 – May 1965. Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Stallcup, O. T., Horton, O. H. & Brown, C. J. (1956). The duration of gestation in dairy cattle. Arkansas Agricultural Experimental Station, Bulletin 576.Google Scholar
Steel, R. G. D. & Torrie, J. H. (1960). Principles and Procedures of Statistics. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Tena Andreu, S. De (1973). Seasonal effects on date of parturition, gestation length and calf birth weight in Friesian cattle. Archives de Zootecnia 22, 61–8.Google Scholar
Tudor, G. D. (1972). The effect of pre- and post-natal nutrition on the growth of beef cattle. I. The effect of nutrition and parity of the dam on calf birth weight. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 23, 389–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar