Abstract
The aim of the study was, within the tested samples of high yielding Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 363), to analyze the significance of the actual level of correlation between the average BCS of cows according to body regions and results in the production of milk indifferent stages and the standard duration of lactation. Differences in average realized BCS in regard to the recommended values in stages of production cycle were highly significant (p ? 0.01). In general, realized correlation coefficients, whose significance was tested, were at very low level. The average value of the BCS at dry off period in the first, second and third body region was statistically significantly (p <0.05) and highly significantly (p <0.01) positively associated with milk production during the first 100 days of lactation. The mean value of BCS at dry off period in the second body region was in a statistically significant positive correlation (p <0.05) with the production of milk in the second 100 days and standard lactation. The average value of BCS at dry off period for all three body regions was highly significantly (p <0.05) positively associated with milk production in the first 100 days. The mean value of BCS at calving in the first body region was highly significantly (p <0.01) positively associated with milk production during the first and the second 100 days of lactation and standard lactation. Average BCS value at calving for the second body region was highly significantly (p <0.01) positively correlated with milk production in the first and second 100 days of lactation and significantly positvely correlated (p <0.05) with the production of milk in the standard lactation. The mean value of BCS at calving in the third body region was highly significantly (p <0.01) positively correlated with milk production during the first 100 days of lactation and significantly positively correlated (p <0.05) with the production of milk in the second 100 days and standard lactation. Average BCS value for all three body regions at calving was in a highly significant (p <0.01) positive correlation with milk production in the first hundred days of lactation. A significant positive correlation (p <0.05) with the production of milk in the second 100 days and a standard lactation was achieved. The average value of BCS at the peak of lactation for the first, second and third body region was significantly (p<0.05) and highly significantly (p<0.01) negatively correlated with the production of milk in a standard lactation. The mean value of BCS at the peak of lactation for all three body regions was very significantly (p <0.01) negatively correlated with the production of milk in the standard lactation. The mean value of BCS in the mid-lactation for the first, second and third body region was highly significantly (p <0.01) negatively correlated with the production of milk in the standard lactation. BCS average value for all three body regions in the mid-lactation was very significantly (p <0.01) negatively correlated with the production of milk in the standard lactation.
Highlights
A number of problems in the production of milk occurs due to lack of knowledge and monitoring of energy reserves in the body of cows (Šamanc et al, 2005; Grubić et al, 2009)
The subject of this paper was to assess the significance of the achieved level of correlation between the average values of the cows' Body condition score (BCS) realized within all body regions with total milk production in stages and total duration of a standard lactation
Realized average milk production and milk fat content in the standard lactation period of 305 days is shown in the following table: Table 1
Summary
A number of problems in the production of milk occurs due to lack of knowledge and monitoring of energy reserves in the body of cows (Šamanc et al, 2005; Grubić et al, 2009). Cows in optimal body condition after calving have sufficient appetite and produce more milk of good quality. Preparing cows for lactation cycle should begin during late lactation and the dry off period. The body condition of cows at calving has a significant impact on milk production in the current lactation. Body condition score (BCS) is a qualitative method for determining the body's energy reserves in the form of subcutanous fat that is deposited in the region of the hips, flanks and tail root (Wildman et al, 1982; Edmonson et al, 1989, Ferguson et al 1994)
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