The Comparison of growth performances of difficult and normally born calves

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed at comparing the growth performances of calves born with difficulty and normal calves. The first and most important objective in cattle breeding is to produce a sufficient number of calves within the morphological and physiological limits determined by genetics. In this sense, calf yield varies according to the number of pregnant cows and live-born calves in the herd per unit time. In cattle breeding, especially in dairy cattle breeding, one of the factors that negatively affects calf yield is calving difficulty or difficult calving. Difficult births are generally a cause of significant economic loss for enterprises due to the risks they pose for the health of both cow and calf. In order to compare the growth performances of the calves born with difficulty and normal calves, the birth weight and weaning weight of calves born with difficulty and normal calves were weighed according to whether the births were assisted or not. It was determined that the rate of difficult birth was 14,38% in the enterprise. In the study, it was determined that normal-born calves had an average birth weight of 39.24 kg and Dystocia-born calves had an average birth weight of 39.50 kg. It is understood that the average birth weights of the normal-born calves varied between 21,00 and 54,00 kg, while the average birth weights of the Dystocia-born calves varied between 28,00 and 53,00 kg. In the analysis of variance, the differences between birth types were not found to be statistically significant. When the frequencies of difficult births were evaluated according to the birth weights of the calves, it was understood that difficult births were concentrated between 36 and 45 kg. However, the fact that the calves born between 26 and 35 kg also had Dystocia birth records indicates maternal pelvic bone stenosis.