Best Time to Increase Bovine Calving Based on Dairy Indicators of Commercial Herds in Camagüey

Abstract

The best time to increase calving based on dairy production indicators was determined. Records from 2 036 Holstein x Zebu cows were evaluated monthly. This research took place between 2008 and 2014, within a five-year pe-riod as minimum, in the three kinds of dairy facilities (Basic Unit of Cooperative Production, Basic State Farm, and a farm). The variables used were births, total milk production, average milk liter/cow/day, and milking cows, which were decomposed according to season using a multiplication model. Seasonal behavior was observed in all the variables without a defined general pattern present in the total dairy production, and milk liter per cow/day (peaks from June to October), which coincided with the beginning of the pasture production peaks. Total milk production and milk liter average per cow/day are elements that can help set up the best moment to increase calving.

Keywords

• milk production
• births
• seasonability
• cattle