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Age at first calving and productive performance of primiparous Holsteins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2024

Rafael Ceolim Braganholo ,
Ferenc Istvan Bánkuti ,
Fabio Seiji dos Santos ,
Victor Breno Pedrosa ,
Maximiliane Alavarse Zambom ,
Altair Antônio Valloto  and
Geraldo Tadeu dos Santos
Rafael Ceolim Braganholo
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná (PR), 87020-900, Brazil
Ferenc Istvan Bánkuti
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná (PR), 87020-900, Brazil
Fabio Seiji dos Santos
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Western PR State University (UNIOESTE), Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná, 85960-000, Brazil
Victor Breno Pedrosa
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR, 84010-340, Brazil
Maximiliane Alavarse Zambom
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, Western PR State University (UNIOESTE), Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná, 85960-000, Brazil
Altair Antônio Valloto
Affiliation:
Paraná Association of Holstein Cattle Breeders (APCBRH), Curitiba, PR
Geraldo Tadeu dos Santos*
Affiliation:
Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná (PR), 87020-900, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Geraldo Tadeu dos Santos; Email: gtsantos@uem.br
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Abstract

This study investigated the age at first calving in Holstein heifers and its impact on various production parameters. A sample of 737 Holstein heifers born between 2015 and 2018 and finishing their first lactations between 2018 and 2020 was included. Cluster analysis revealed three groups based on age at first calving: high precocity, medium precocity and low precocity. Medium-precocity group exhibited the highest 305-day milk yield and peak milk production. Additionally, the same group demonstrated superior mean production per lactation, 305-day milk protein content, and 305-day milk yield. The lowest somatic cell count was found in the low-precocity group. In conclusion, medium-precocity cows showed better results such as higher 305-day milk yield and peak milk production.

Keywords

Cluster analysesdairy productionhighHolsteinlowmedium precocity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 90 , Issue 4 , November 2023 , pp. 353 - 356
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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References

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