The effect of breeding index on the performance of non-lactating Jersey cattle

A.M. Bryant

Ruakura Animal Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1983, 43: 63-66

Data from 4 experiments involving comparisons of cows of high (HBI) and low (LBI) breeding index summarised. In 2 stall feeding experiments, the differences (H-L) in daily intake (kg DM/100 kg LW) were -0.08 ą 0.11 and 0.14 ą 0.10. The cows differed in live weight by 36 ą 16 and 47 ą 15 kg and intake increased by about 0.18 MJ ME/kg live- weight difference.

A 63-day grazing trial involved 100 cows in 6 BHI and 5 LBI groups that differed in initial condition. Daily herbage allowance was inversely related to initial condition. Change in live weight or condition was not significantly affected by breeding index indicating feed requirements of the HBI and LBI cows were similar. Efficiency of grazing of HBI cows was greater than that of LBI cows.

In a second grazing trial of 56 days involving 60 cows, groups consisting of 5 HBI and 5 LBI cows were offered daily herbage allowances inversely related to their initial condition. The HBI cows achieved higher gains in live weight and condition than the LBI cows, the differences tending to be greater at lower allowances.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Grazing; breeding index; non-lactating; efficiency; intake; live weight; condition; cows

Download abstract in text format
Last Updated 03-05-1997