Factors affecting the shape of lactation curves in Polish Holstein-Friesian cows
Journal Title: Animal Science Papers and Reports - Year 2016, Vol 34, Issue 4
Abstract
The objectives of this study were (1) to examine different shapes of lactation curves when the Wilmink function is fitted to test-day yields, and (2) to analyze the relationships between lactation curve shape and factors determining it in Polish Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows. Test-day milk yields were collected for 1,359,040 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows that calved from 1995 to 2008. A multiple-trait prediction (MTP) procedure was used to fit individual lactation curves and estimate partial, peak and 305-d lactation yields using the Wilmink function. The Wilmink function was able to model two groups of lactation curves: standard and atypical. Atypical curves were found more often in later lactations rather than first lactations of Polish HF cows. For standard curves, peak yields (on average, about 23 kg in the first and 28-30 kg in later parities) occurred at around 38 days in milk (DIM) in the first lactations and 30 DIM in later lactations. For atypical curves, mean milk yields at peak were similar in value. Milk yield recording should start as early as possible, because the distance between the first test and calving is the factor that significantly affected the occurrence of atypical lactation curves. An effect of season and parity on the occurrence of atypical curves also was observed in the Polish Holstein-Friesian population. The effect of season was especially noticeable for cows that calved between April and September with only one yield recorded.
Authors and Affiliations
Agnieszka Otwinowska-Mindur, Ewa Ptak
Keywords
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