Effect of environment factors on milk production and lactation length under different seasons in crossbred cattle

Abstract

The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different macro climatic variables on lactation milk yield and lactation length of Holdeo (Holstein Friesian x Deoni) crossbred cattle. Milk data of 145 Holdeo crossbred cows with 619 lactation records and the meteorological data over a period of 15 years (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) were obtained from Cattle Cross Breeding Project, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani and University Meteorological Observatory, respectively. It was observed that maximum temperature has significant correlation with lactation milk yield; whereas maximum temperature, minimum temperature, sunshine hours and wind speed have significant correlation with lactation length. Regression analysis indicated that all the climatic variables except minimum temperature exhibited significant regression results with lactation milk yield, and maximum temperature, minimum temperature and maximum humidity have significant regression results with lactation length. All the climatic variables considered in the study accounted for 75 % and 65 % direct variation on lactation milk yield and lactation length, respectively, as verified by the value of coefficient of determination (R 2 ). It was observed that lactation milk yield (1136.56 + 21.04 kg.) and lactation length (295.29 + 5.51 days) were highest among the cows calved during winter season as compared to rainy and summer season. All the climatic variables considered in the study accounted for 57% , 56 % and 48 % direct variation on milk yield and 68% , 53 % and 46 % direct variation on lactation length in rainy, winter and summer season, respectively, as verified by the value of coefficient of determination (R 2 ). This research indicated that crossbred cows were sensitive to seasonal changes on their lactation performance. The optimum ranges of temperature; humidity and THI for better performance of crossbred in subtropical region of India were found to be [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] o C, 52-66 % and 65-68 %, respectively.

Dairy Production under Climatic Risks: Perception, Perceived Impacts and Adaptations in Punjab, Pakistan

“…Whenever asked about heat waves, farmers mistakenly mixed their perception because heat waves are mainly observed during droughts. They also recalled that milk quantity and quality is always affected by heat waves during the last decade [8,16,25,79,85,86]. More than 120 respondents confirm that breeding is highly affected by heat waves, humidity and drought period.…”

“…Other study from East Africa had contradicting results, because they estimated that farmers with larger herd size had better capacity and adaptation strategies against climatic hazards impacts [97]. The crossbreed cattle were found to be more sensitive than local and mixed breed; an Indian study verified that temperature and humidity affected the lactation length and lactation yield of milk about 46.50% and 48.70% in ‘Holdeo’ crossbreed cattle [86]. While our study results for breed of animals were insignificant as in Pakistan farmers prefer local breed than crossbreed.…”

Identification of suitable housing system for dairy cattle in North East Zone of Tamil Nadu, India, with respect to microclimate

“…The minimum temperature recorded during all the four seasons in the zone was within the upper temperature limit of comfort zone for optimum milk production recommended by Dutt et al . [ 3 ], Fuquay [ 16 ], Mote [ 17 ]. However, the temperature at 2.00 pm was above this level in all the housing systems indicating the need for additional heat amelioration measures.…”

Two single nucleotide polymorphisms sites in α1-AT gene and their association with somatic cell score in Chinese Holstein cows

“…Like the other traits in cows, yield and quality of milk were affected by factors of heredity, nutrition and environment [ 18 – 21 ]. At genetic level, several molecular marker genes which associated with milk production traits were detected in various dairy cows over the years [ 22 – 26 ].…”