Performances of Dairy Heifers Weaned at 30, 45 and 60 Days of Age

F. UGUR¹, M. MENDES¹, M. YANAR² and A. PALA¹
¹ Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Science Department, 17020 Canakkale, Turkey
² Ataturk University, Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Science Department, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey

Abstract

UGUR, F., M. MENDES, M. YANAR and A. PALA, 2004. Performances of dairy heifers weaned at 30, 45 and 60 days of age. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 10: 515-517

The effects of early weaning on age at first calving on the milk and milk fat yield characteristics of Brown Swiss and Holstein-Friesian cattle were studied. The calves used in this study were weaned at 30, 45 and 60 days of age. The differences among the weaning groups concerning age at first calving, 305- day milk yield, the percentage of milk fat and 305 - day milk fat yield were found to be insignificant (P>0.05). The results of this study suggested that early weaning of Brown Swiss and Holstein Friesian calves at 30 days of age would not have a detrimental effect on age at first calving and milk production traits.

Key words: Early weaning, Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Milk Production
Abbreviations: BS = Brown Swiss, HF = Holstein Friesian, AFC = age at first calving, MY = the first lactation 305- day milk yield, MFY = the first lactation 305- day milk fat yield, PMF = percent of milk fat

Performances of Dairy Heifers Weaned at 30, 45 and 60 Days of Age

Abstract

Key words: Early weaning, Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Milk Production Abbreviations: BS = Brown Swiss, HF = Holstein Friesian, AFC = age at first calving, MY = the first lactation 305- day milk yield, MFY = the first lactation 305- day milk fat yield, PMF = percent of milk fat

Key words: Early weaning, Brown Swiss, Holstein Friesian, Milk Production
Abbreviations: BS = Brown Swiss, HF = Holstein Friesian, AFC = age at first calving, MY = the first lactation 305- day milk yield, MFY = the first lactation 305- day milk fat yield, PMF = percent of milk fat