Genetic analysis of first dry period and lifetime performance in Hariana cattle

Abstract

The present study was aimed to study lifetime milk production of Hariana cattle in organized farms. The nongenetic factors such as period of calving/birth, season of calving/birth, AFC age group and farms on these traits were studied by least-squares analysis and the means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test. The leastsquares means for first dry period, lifetime 2 milk yield, lifetime 3 milk yield, lifetime 4 milk yield, lifetime 5 milk yield and actual lifetime milk yield were estimated as 198.8±6.1 days, 1802.8±42.3 litres, 2797.0±68.6 litres, 3886.6±100.3 litres, 4984.9±141.9 litres and 4598.3±144.7 litres respectively. Farm, season of calving and period of calving had significant effect on first dry period. Farm and AFC class had significant effect on actual lifetime milk yield. Period of birth had significant effect on lifetime 2 milk yield, lifetime 3 milk yield, lifetime 4 milk yield, lifetime 5 milk yield and actual lifetime milk yield. Season of birth had significant effect on lifetime 3 milk yield, lifetime 4 milk yield and lifetime 5 milk yield. The autumn season born animals had lowest first dry period and highest lifetime 2 milk yield, lifetime 3 milk yield, lifetime 4 milk yield, lifetime 5 milk yield and actual lifetime milk yield.

Keywords

• Dry period
• Hariana cattle
• Least-squares analysis
• Lifetime milk yield