Effect of inter-calving interval duration on cow productivity in two consecutive lactations

• Published in: Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Zootechnica (Poland) no. 7
• Main Authors: Micinski, J, Pogorzelska, J.,University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn (Poland). Dept. of Cattle Breeding and Milk Quality Evaluation
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: APTITUD LECHERA; APTITUDE LAITIERE; BOVIN LAITIER; COWS; DAIRY CATTLE; GANADO DE LECHE; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15998; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1939; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2108; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24276; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_32397; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4140; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4788; INTERVALLE ENTRE PARTURITION; INTERVALO ENTRE PARTOS; LACTACION; LACTATION; METHODE; METHODS; METODOS; MILK PERFORMANCE; MILK YIELD; PARTURITION INTERVAL; RENDEMENT LAITIER; RENDIMIENTO LECHERO; VACA; VACHE
• ISSN: 1644-0714

The study was conducted during the years 2005-07 on a private farm located in Ksiezy Dwor near Dzialdowo, Province of Warmia and Mazury (NE Poland). The experimental materials comprised 368 Holstein-Friesian cows. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of inter-calving interval (ICI) duration in two consecutive lactations on milk yield and composition. Milk yield in the second lactation reached 7769 kg (305-day lactation) and 8317 kg (full lactation), and was higher than in the first lactation by 1218 kg and 959 kg respectively. Value-corrected milk (VCM) yield was substantially higher, i.e. 8744 kg and 9450 kg. The yield of fat, protein, lactose and dry matter was also higher in the 2nd lactation. Cows with the longest ICI were characterized by the highest yield of milk and milk components. It was found that milk yield in the 1st lactation and ICI duration may provide a basis for selecting high-performance cows. The high coefficients of simple correlation between ICI duration and milk yield and composition, observed in this study, are indicative of a strong relationship between ICI and cow productivity. The highest values of correlation coefficients were noted with respect to the yield of dry matter (r = 0.993), protein (r = 0.973), VCM (r = 0.968) and fat (r = 0.942). The ICI duration x lactation interaction had a significant effect on the yield of milk, VCM, fat, protein, lactose and dry matter as well as on the content of fat and protein