Rotation Crossbreeding with Sahiwal and Ayrshire Cattle in the Tropics

Abstract

Data were analyzed for two breeding groups of cattle that were either 67% Sahiwal-33% Ayrshire or 33% Sahiwal-67% Ayrshire produced in a continuous two-breed rotation crossbreeding system at sea level on the Indian Ocean in Kenya at 003.5° latitude south. Characters in the analysis were age at first calving, calving interval, lactation yield, annual lactation yield, birth weight, average daily gain from birth to 50kg, average daily gain from 50 to 90kg, average daily gain from birth to 90kg, and calf survival. The 33% Sahiwal-67% Ayrshire breeding group had a significant advantage over the 67% Sahiwal-33% Ayrshire breeding group in all characters except calf survival, calving interval, and birth weight.