Age and weight at first calving and subsequent performance in Dutch dairy cattle from rearing farms

Abstract

14. Vree TB, Vree JB, de Jonge PAM, Plaum MJM, Verwey CPWGM, Hekster YA, Shimoda M, and Nouws JFM. SUMMARY. Calf-cow records from 1081 replacement heifers raised on 42 specialised rearing farms in the province of Noord-Brabant have been analysed. The predominant breed was MeuseRhine-Yssel (MRY). The objective was to study the relationship between weight and age at first calving and milk production in subsequent lactations, herd life span, dystocia and first calving interval.Weight appeared to be a better predictor for first lactation Fat and Protein Corrected Milk production (FPCM-1) than age. First lactation FPCM had a significant and positive effect on herd life FPCM. First lactation FPCM was significantly associated with first calving interval.

Relationships between age at first calving and first lactation milk yield, and lifetime productivity and longevity in dairy cows

“…However, other studies have shown that a higher bodyweight at calving has a positive effect on milk production (Keown and Everett 1986, Hoffman 1997). Furthermore, the first lactation milk yield has a significant and positive relationship with the milk yield in subsequent lactations (Stassen and others 1991). Jairath and others (1995) showed that the first lactation milk yield had a high positive correlation with most measurements of lifetime performance, but correlations with measurements of longevity were relatively lower.…”