Characterization of the Boran and Sahiwal Breeds of Cattle for Economic Characters2

Abstract

Data on pedigree Boran and pedigree Sahiwal cattle from one herd in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya were analyzed for the following characters: age at first calving, calving interval, calf survival to weaning, weaning weight and adjusted 660-day weight of heifers. The breeds did not differ (P>.05) in age at first calving, weaning weight and calf survival. The Sahiwal cows had a shorter (P<.01) calving interval than the Boran cows, even though some milk was extracted from Sahiwal cows to provide for domestic consumption. Boran heifers had higher (P<.01) adjusted 660-day weights than Sahiwal heifers. A sample of mature cows of the two breeds (32 cows per breed) showed no difference in weight. It is likely that this absence of difference in mature weight was the result of sampling error. Because of their higher weight at 660 days, Boran cows are likely to be heavier at maturity than Sahiwal cows. When the Sahiwal cows were credited with the milk that was extracted, they exceeded Boran cows by 13.5% in productivity index per cow per year and by 12.4% in productivity index per 100 kg of cow weight maintained. The results indicate that the Sahiwal breed probably has higher transmitted effects for maternal ability than the Boran breed, whereas the Boran breed probably has higher transmitted effects for growth rate.