In order to determine the effect of age at
first calving (AFC) at 305-d milk yield, a historical prospective longitudinal
study of 46,029 pure specialized dairy Costa Rican Holstein animals was carried
out between 2000 and 2010. Data on purebred specialized dairy Holstein cows
enrolled in the program VAMPP Bovino 3.0 were included. Information was
analyzed by using descriptive statistics and mixed linear models. The effect of
the AFC was adjusted to the ecological zone, season of birth, year of birth,
inbreeding index, and type of parturition and parity number of the dam at
birth. The average AFC for the animals that were part of the study was 30.7 mo
(SD: 6.8, 95% CI: 30.6 - 30.7). The average total milk production in the first
lactation was5188.0 kg(95% CI: 5153.4 - 5223.2), whereas the 305-d corrected milk yield resulted in5288 kg(95% CI: 5253.7 - 5323.2). Cows
with AFC less than 26 mo and between 26.0 and 33.6 mo, produced -354.8 kg/305-d (P < 0.0001) and -105.6 kg/305-d (P = 0.0117)
respectively, compared with cows calving over 33.6 mo. It is likely that the
observed effect of the AFC on the topmost dairy lactation affects the
productive life of the cow within the herd. Further studies are required to
prove this hypothesis.
References
[1]
Pirlo, G., Miglior, F. and Speroni, M. (2000) Effect of Age at First Calving on Production Traits and on Difference between Milk Yield Returns and Rearing Costs on Italian Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science, 83, 603-608.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(00)74919-8
[2]
Grajales, H., Hernández, A. and Prieto, E. (2006) Edad y peso a la pubertad y su relación con la eficiencia reproductiva de grupos raciales bovinos en el trópico colombiano. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 18.
http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd18/10/graj18139.htm
[3]
Nilforooshan, M.A. and Edriss, M.A. (2004) Effect of Age at First Calving on Some Productive and Longevity Traits in Iranian Holsteins of the Isfahan Province. Journal of Dairy Science, 87, 2130-2135.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)70032-6
[4]
Marini, P.R., Charmandarian, A. and Di Masso, R.J. (2007) Desempeno productivo y reproductivo de vacas de diferentes edades al primer parto en sistemas a pastoreo. Sitio Argentino de Producción Animal.
http://www.produccion-animal.com.ar/
[5]
Gardner, R.W., Smith, L.W. and Park, R.L. (1988) Feeding and Management of Dairy Heifers for Optimal Lifetime Productivity. Journal of Dairy Science, 71, 996-999. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(88)79646-0
[6]
Ettema, J. and Santos, J. (2004) Impact of Age at First Calving on Lactation, Reproduction, Health, and Income in First-Parity Holstein on Commercial Farms. Journal of Dairy Science, 87, 2730-2742.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73400-1
[7]
Carvajal, M., Valencia, E.R. and Segura, J.C. (2002) Duración de la lactancia y producción de leche de vacas Holstein en el Estado de Yucatán México. Rev Biomed, 13, 25-31.
[8]
Casas, E. and Tewolde, A. (2001) Evaluación de características relacionadas con la eficiencia reproductiva. Archivos latinoamericanos de Producción Animal, 9, 63-67.
[9]
Noordhuizen, J.P.T.M. and Buurman, J. (1984) VAMPP: A Veterinary Automated Management and Production Control Program for Dairy Farms (The Application of MUMPS for Data Processing). Veterinary Quarterly, 6, 66-72.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1984.9693914
[10]
SAS Institute Inc., SAS®(1990) User’s Guide. Version 6, 4th Edition, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, 943 p.
[11]
Holdrige, L.R. (1987) Ecología basada en zonas de vida. IICA, San José.
[12]
Cedeno, D.A. and Vargas, L.B. (2004) Efecto de la raza y el manejo sobre la vida productiva del bovino lechero en Costa Rica. Archivos de Zootecnia, 53, 129-140.
[13]
Heinrichs, A.J., Wells, S.J., Hurd, H.S., Hill, G.W. and Dargatz, D.A. (1994) The National Dairy Heifers Evaluation Project: A Profile of Heifer Management Practices in the United States. Journal of Dairy Science, 77, 1548-1555.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(94)77096-X
[14]
Pirlo, G. (1997) Rearing Cost of Replacement Heifer and Optimal Age at First Calving. L Informatore Agrario, 9-12.
[15]
Perez, M.A., Hernandez, D., Alenda, R., Carabano, M.J. and Charfeddine, N. (1999) Genetic Analysis of True Profit for Spanish Dairy Cattle. http://www.interbull.slu.se/bulletins/bulletin23/perez.pdf
[16]
Bolívar, D.M., Echeverry, J.J., Restrepo, L.F. and Munoz, M.F.C. (2009) Productividad de vacas Holstein y Jersey en una zona de bosque húmedo montano bajo (Bh-MB). Livestock Research for Rural Development, Vol. 21, Article No. 80. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/6/boli21080.htm
[17]
Hussein, M.M., Agawany, A.A.E. and Khalil, A.A.Y. (2009) Influence of Subclinical Mastitis on Some Reproductive Parameters in Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cows. Veterinary Medical Journal Giza, 57, 97-113.
[18]
Heinrichs, A.J., Heinrichs, B.S., Harel, O., Rogers, G.W. and Place, N.T. (2005) A Prospective Study of Calf Factors Affecting Age, Body Size, and Body Condition Score at First Calving of Holstein Dairy Heifers. Journal of Dairy Science, 88, 2828-2835. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(05)72963-5
[19]
Munoz, M.F.C., Tonhati, H., Costa, C. and Benavides, F. (2001) Interacción genotipo-ambiente en ganado Holstein colombiano. Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal, 2, 74-78.
[20]
Molina, R. and Boschini, C. (1979) Ajuste de la curva de lactancia de ganado Holstein con un modelo lineal. Tesis. Escuela de Zootecnia. Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 167.
[21]
Animal Improvement Program Laboratory (A.I.P.L.) United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service. http://www.aipl.arsusda.gov/
[22]
Rokouei, M., Torshimi, R.V., Shahrbabak, M.M., Sargolzaei, M. and Sorencen, A.C. (2010) Monitoring Inbreeding Trends and Inbreeding Depression for Economically Important Traits of Holstein Cattle in Iran. Journal of Dairy Science, 93, 3294-3302. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2748
[23]
Rodríguez, G. and Martínez, G.E. (2008) Efecto de la Edad al Primer Parto, Grupo Racial y Algunos Factores Ambientales sobre la Producción de Leche y el Primer Intervalo entre Partos en Vacas Doble Propósito. Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria, 40, 7-22.
[24]
Monge, R.Q. (2007) Memorias del IX Congreso Nacional de Ciencias: Exploraciones fuera y dentro del aula. Bosques de Costa Rica. Ago. 24 y 25. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago.
[25]
Kadzere, C., Murphy, M., Silanikove, N. and Maltz, E. (2002) Heat Stress in Lactating Dairy Cows: A Review. Livestock Production Science, 77, 59-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(01)00330-X
[26]
Settivari, R., Spain, J., Ellersieck, M., Byatt, J., Collier, R. and Spiers, D. (2007) Relationship of Thermal Status to Productivity in Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows Given Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin. Journal of Dairy Science, 90, 1265-1280. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(07)71615-6
[27]
Bohmanova, J., Misztaland, I. and Cole, J. (2007) Temperature-Humidity Indices as Indicators of Milk Production Losses Due to Heat Stress. Journal of Dairy Science, 90, 1947-1956. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2006-513
[28]
Tucker, C., Rogers, A. and Schutz, K. (2007) Effect of Solar Radiation on Dairy Cattle Behaviour, Use of Shade and Body Temperature in Pasture-Based System. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 109, 141-154.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.03.015
[29]
Nassuna-Musoke, G., Kabassa, J. and King, M. (2007) Response of Friesian Cows to Microclimate on Small Farms in Warm Tropical Climates. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6, 899-906.
[30]
Barash, H., Silanikove, N., Shamay, A. and Ezra, E. (2001) Interrelationships among Ambient Temperature, Day Length and Milk Yield in Dairy Cows under a Mediterranean Climate. Journal of Dairy Science, 84, 2314-2320.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(01)74679-6
[31]
Garcia-Ispierto, I., López, G.F., Bech, G.S., Santolaria, P., Yaniz, J., Nogareda, C., De Rensis, F. and Lopez, M.B. (2007) Climate Factors Affecting Conception Rate of High Producing Dairy Cows in Northeastern Spain. Theriogenology, 67, 1379-1385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.02.009
[32]
Henríquez, C., Cabalceta, G., Bertsch, F. and Alvarado, A. (2001) Principales Suelos de Costa Rica. Asociación Costarricense de la Ciencia del Suelo. http://www.mag.go.cr/bibioteca_virtual_ciencia/suelos-cr.html
[33]
Sánchez, J.M. (2001) El valor nutritivo de algunos pastos tropicales de Costa. Programa de Registro y Control de Calidad de Alimentos para Animales Convenio Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG). http://www.feednet.ucr.ac.cr/bromatologia/pcpt.htm
