Abstract
A study was carried out to evaluate non genetic factors affecting milk yield and milk composition in Zimbabwean Red Dane and Jersey cattle cattle. A total of 1004 and 10 986 unedited Red Dane and Jersey 305-day lactation records respectively, were obtained from Livestock Identification Trust (LIT) containing 22 herds (1 Red Dane herd and 21 Jersey herds), with Red Dane calving in the period 2004 to 2009 (giving year of birth from 1998 to 2007) and Jersey cows calving in the period 1996 to 2008 (giving year of birth from 1994 to 2005). The General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2004) version 9.1.3 was used to determine the genetic parameters and environmental factors. Calving interval, month of calving, parity and quadratic effects of age at calving fitted as covariates significantly (P < 0.0001) affected the milk, fat and protein yields. Milk, fat and protein yields obtained increased with an increase in calving interval. There was a linear and quadratic relationship between the production traits and age at calving of the Jersey cattle implying that milk, fat and protein yields increase with age of the animal. It is thus important to preadjust data for these environmental factors when carrying out genetic evaluations of production traits in dairy cattle.
Highlights
Non-genetic factors in animal production are those effects that are not part of the genetic make-up of an animal
Factors which significantly affect milk, butterfat and protein yields in Zimbabwean Red Dane and Jersey cattle are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
The results found in this study are consistent with literature (Makuza 1995; Mandizha 1998; Imbayarwo-Chikosi 1999; Kunaka 1999; Amimo et al 2007; Missanjo 2010; Nyamushamba et al 2013)
Summary
Non-genetic factors in animal production are those effects that are not part of the genetic make-up of an animal. The study aimed to establish environmental factors that affect milk, butterfat and protein yields for Jersey and Red Dane cattle in Zimbabwe. The information on environmental factors affecting milk production may reveal the need to have matings and calvings that occur at certain times of the year that gives higher yields with less input. It is critical to provide information on both the genetic and non genetic factors that influence milk production. A study on the non-genetic-factors affecting milk production in Red Dane and Jersey cattle is justifiable. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of non genetic factors on milk, protein and fat yields
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