EFFECT OF HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN HEIFERS’ GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ON MILK PRODUCTION IN THE FIRST LACTATION
Keywords:
Holstein-Friesian, heifer, growth, milk yield, height at withers, body weight, withers height indexAbstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate growth and development of heifers from birth
to 24 months of age and the effects on milk yield in first lactation. Body weight and
height at withers of female calves (N=4167) were taken at monthly intervals. At 3
months of age the average height at withers of calves, live weight and wither index
was 80.9 kg, 86.1 cm and 1.0, respectively. Figures taken at 6 months of age the
height at withers, live weight and wither index increased by 17.6 cm, 92.3 kg and
1.7. Respective mean values at 9, 16 and 24 months of age were 250.0, 413.9 and
603.7 kg; 116.0, 128.5 and 139.7 cm; and 2.2, 3.2 and 4.3. The heifers with the ideal
or lower ones at 3, 9 and 16 month of age produced higher milk yields in the first
lactation milk yield by 200-500 kg as compared with the highest index category.
Higher index values at 6 months of age resulted in increase of milk yields in the first
the lactation. At 24 months of age first lactation milk yields were similar in all indexcategories (8647.2, 8703.5 and 8717.5 kg, respectively). No variations neither in
butterfat (3.6%) nor milk protein (3.1%) content were present within the index
categories at any ages. In conclusion, findings reveal that the withers height index
seems to be an appropriate tool in monitoring of growth and development of
replacement heifers for taking corrective actions in feeding and breeding practice.
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