Production and Reproduction Performance of Sahiwal and HF × Sahiwal Cows

Abstract

Background: Milk production is one of the most important economic traits in dairy cattle. Crossing of zebu cattle (Bos indicus) with temperate cattle breeds (Bos taurus) was undertaken to improve the milk production in India. Crossbreeding has resulted in improved production performance of the dairy animlas over the past few decades. Methods: Data on 50 purebred Sahiwal cows from the Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad and 50 Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal crossbred cows maintained at the Military Dairy Farm, Secunderabad were utilized to study the influence of breed and parity on various production and reproduction traits. The various traits studied were: Total lactation milk yield (TLMY) Lactation length (LL), Peak yield (PY), Age at first service (AFS), Age at first calving (AFC), Gestation period (GP), Service period (SP), Dry period (DP) and Calving interval (Cl). Result: In the present study, significant effect of breed was found on the TLMY and PY with the crossbreds recording higher values for both the traits. The means for TLMY, PY, LL, GP, SP, DP and CI were 1768.32±109.67 kg, 10.17±0.50 kg, 304.41±13.00 days, 277.71±2.24 days, 182.60±15.51 days, 167.47±10.68 days and 430.23±13.46 days in Sahiwal and 2983.45±78.32 kg, 14.92±0.36 kg, 324.71±9.29 days, 275.34 days, 181.09±10.91 days, 127.01±7.51, 413.61±9.47 days in crossbred cows respectively. It may be concluded that the productive performance of crossbred cows was better than that of indigenous cows.