Environmental and Genetic Variation in Milk Yield of Native Cattle and Crosses with Brown Swiss in India2

Abstract

Effects of year, season, parity, age, their two-way interactions, lactation length and calving interval on milk yield were investigated utilizing 9,086 lactation records collected from 1930 to 1975 from six breed groups kept in one herd at Karnal, India. The breed groups involved three native breeds (Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Tharpakar) and three crossbreds with Brown Swiss (F1 crosses between Brown Swiss and three native breeds, inter se crosses, and 3/4 Brown Swiss). Breed, year, season, parity, age and all of the two-way interactions with the exception of breed X season and parity X season were important. Tharpakar produced more milk than Sahiwal and Red Sindhi by 232 and 204 kg. The milk production difference between Sahiwal and Red Sindhi was only 28 kg. The three crossbreds outproduced the purebreds by an average of 766 kg; however, differences in management could have favored crossbreds. Among the crossbreds, F1 crosses were superior. The linear and quadratic regressions on lactation length accounted for 28% of the variation in milk yield after year, season, parity, age and their interactions were absorbed. Calving interval and lactation length together accounted for 29%. Estimates of heritability, from paternal half-sib analyses, and repeatability of milk yield for Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Tharpakar ranged from .10 to .30. Differences among heritability estimates from different parities were small when more than 500 records were involved.

Factors affecting weight and age at first calving, first lactation milk yield in Gir cows

“…The similar estimates of heritability (0.11± 0.07) for FLMY in Sahiwal cows was reported by Mohiuddin et al (1994), while higher estimates of heritability (0.25± 0.10) was reported by Ruvuna et al (1984) in Red Sindhi cows.…”

Effect of genetic and non genetic factors on first lactation traits in Gir cows

“…The estimate of heritability for first lactation milk yield have been observed to be 0.112 ± 0.252 in present investigation of Gir Cows. The similar estimates of heritability (0.11± 0.07) for FLMY in Sahiwal cows was reported by Mohiuddin et al (1994), while higher estimates of heritability (0.25± 0.10) was reported by Ruvuna et al (1984) in Red Sindhi cows. The heritability estimate for first Dry period have been observed to be 0.419± 0.234 in present investigation of Gir Cows.…”

Do Cows Have Negative Returns? The Evidence Revisited

“…Data from the Animal Husbandry Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh suggest that a fertile cross-breed cow costs about INR 10,530 (US$ 227) in Andhra Pradesh in the financial year 2008/09 (AHD-GAP, 2009). 20 Cows enter reproductive age at about 2.5 years (buffaloes after 3 years) and are expected to calve about 5 times during their lifetime (Ruvuna et al, 1984). 21 Given an average reproduction rate of around 0.59 per year (as observed in the sample), we can assume cows and buffaloes to be productive for about 8.5 years after entering reproductive age.…”