Morphological Features and Growth Traits of Half Sib Local Pabna Calves up to Yearling Stages

Abstract

Background: Usually morphological features and growth traits are used in breed characterization. The research was performed to reveal the phenotypic and growth traits of half sib local Pabna calves up to yearling stages and to reveal their association with selection regarding body size and morphological features. Methods: Data of phenotypic measures from both body and head parts and growth traits were collected from 18 and 22 half sib Pabna calves, respectively. The body weight of newborn calves and respective dams were recorded separately. Each calf was allowed to drink 10% of milk for individual’s body weight from respective dam twice per day at calf shed.Result: Linear increasing trend observed in all morphological features from birth to yearling stages for both body and head characteristics of Pabna calves in which heart girth (63.33±1.31 cm at birth and 91.83±2.18 cm at pre-weaning), wither height (84.17±0.60 cm at pre-weaning), carpal circumference (10.50±0.50 cm at birth), mouth circumference (21.33±0.33 cm at birth and 26.58 cm at pre-weaning) and head length (30.08±0.99 cm at pre-weaning) had significant differences (p less than 0.05) in male calves compare to female. The effect of calves’ birth weight deferred significantly (p less than 0.05) for body length, heart girth, abdominal circumference, wither height and tail length in the calves’ group having ≥20 kg of birth weight compare to less than 20 kg. Body weight of Pabna calves also showed linear fashion from birth (19.56±2.11 kg) to yearling stages (112.33±3.30 kg) including moderate correlation at first (53%) and twelfth (48%) month and weak at weaning (7%) stages. The sex and birth weight of calf had significant effects (p less than 0.05) up to pre-weaning stage of calf but its continuation was not followed up to yearling stages.